Previous PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

Update

Drought Cost Estimates

MAF officials are preparing a national estimate of the economic costs of the drought. Early indications showed a nation-wide farmgate net cost of around $300 million spread over the period to the end of June next year. Regions most affected included Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, the South Wairarapa and South Taranaki, with Marlborough remaining the driest.

Lower than normal production in some areas was being offset by better than usual production in parts of the North Island. It will be difficult for the southern provinces to recover before winter, but warmer than usual weather to date has been keeping up soil temperatures, benefiting pasture growth now that some rain has fallen. The biggest concern is a potential shortage of supplementary feed if the coming winter is cold and wet.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

NZ's Newest National Park

Stewart Island is to be the site of NZ's newest (and first island) national park. The new 163,000-hectare Rakiura National Park covers about 85% of Stewart Island. There are 13 other national parks in NZ.

First Heartland Services Centre Opened

The first Heartland Services Centre opened in Dargaville last month. The Centre will serve the Kaipara district and is the first of about 10 Heartland Services Centres planned to be established in provincial locations around the country before Christmas this year. $2.27 million is to be provided in the Budget to establish and staff the centres over the next 4 years.

Apart from Department of Work and Income and Child, Youth and Family, Heartland Services in Dargaville will involve ACC, Housing NZ, Inland Revenue and the Maori Land Court. Representatives from these agencies will be at the Centre at scheduled times, where possible synchronising their visits for the convenience of those using the service. MAF will also use the Heartland Services Centre for disseminating information. Other government departments have also been invited to participate.

For more information about the two components of the Heartland initiative there is a backgrounder in the April 2001 'Rural Bulletin'.

Regional Partnerships Announced

The latest regions funded in the third round of the Regional Partnerships Programme of Industry NZ are: West Coast $100,000, Otago $100,000, Taranaki $94,000, Waikato $30,375, Waitomo/King Country $55,000, Coromandel/Hauraki/Matamata/Piako $88,000.

Up to $200,000 is available to assist regions to make economic development plans and build their capacity to put in place those plans. Further funding of up to $2 million per region is available to contribute to major regional projects that come out of the plans. A total of nearly $1,300,000 has now been approved to support regions since the scheme was launched last year.

Interest Write-off for Student Loans

More than $30 million of interest on student loans was written off at the end of May as part of a policy of no interest on loans while a student is still studying. For a student with an average loan of about $12,000, the write-off amounts to about $900. A second wave of interest write-offs for part-time and low-income students is due in June. Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Government Funds for Tuhoe

An Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi, Tuhoe, is being given $4 million by the Government to fund its economic and social development. The money has been earmarked to help the Tuhoe people strengthen health, education, housing and child welfare initiatives in rural areas. Five service centres in isolated Tuhoe territory have been kept going for several years by voluntary workers, and the government money will be used to set up a management structure and provide research on the community's needs.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Fewer Marriages and Divorces

There were fewer marriages and marriage dissolutions in 2000 than in 1999. Marriages registered in NZ in the year ended 31 December 2000 totalled 20,655, a decrease of 430 (or 2.0%) on the previous year. The 2000 figure is down 24% on the peak of 27,199 marriages in 1971. The rate of marriage (number of marriages per 1,000 not-married population aged 16 years and over) fell from 16.2 per 1,000 in 1999 to 15.6 per 1,000 in 2000.

The latest marriage rate is about a third of the peak level of 45.5 per 1,000 recorded in 1971. The growth of de facto unions, the trend towards delayed marriage and a growing percentage of NZers remaining single have all contributed to the large drop in the marriage rate. Other statistics include:

  • Between 1999 and 2000, the median age at first marriage of NZ men rose by 0.3 years from 28.9 years to 29.2 years, while that of NZ women rose by 0.4 years from 27.0 years to 27.4 years. People marrying for the first time in 2000 were, on average, about six years older than their counterparts in 1971, when early marriage was the norm.
  • In the December 2000 year, 9,695 marriage dissolution orders were granted in Family Courts, compared with 9,936 in 1999. The divorce rate (number of divorces per 1,000 estimated existing marriages) fell from 12.6 in 1999 to 12.3 in 2000.
  • In 2000, the number of marriages in which one or both partners had previously been divorced or widowed was 7,538, or about two in five of all marriages. This compares with 4,385, or one in six, in 1971. About 90% of those remarrying in 2000 were divorced, up from 87% in 1990 and 67% in 1971.
  • The median ('middle') age at divorce in 2000 was 41.6 years for men and 39.0 years for women, more than three years older than those who divorced a decade earlier. The rise partly reflects the steady rise in age at marriage during the past two decades.
  • 29.9% of NZers who had married in 1975 had divorced within 25 years. For those married in 1967 and 1971, the corresponding figures were 25.9 and 29.3%, respectively.

Payments Made to Ex-POWs

The first payments have been made to NZers who were held prisoner by the Japanese during World War Two. The Government announced in April that it would make payments of $30,000 per person to ex-prisoners of war and civilian internees of Japan, or their surviving spouses. People who think they may be eligible have been asked to contact the Office of Veterans' Affairs. It's thought that around 150 people may be eligible for the payment.

Claim forms can be obtained by telephoning 0800 483 8372. Claims need to be lodged by 23 April 2002.

Iron Deficiency Statistics

According to research carried out at the Massey University campus in Auckland, nearly a third of infant children in NZ are deficient in iron. In addition, the figures are worse for children from low income families.

Experts say it is crucial for infants to get iron because most of the iron in a child's brain is absorbed before they are one year old. Iron boosts the immune system, helps ward off infections, and is vital for normal growth and development in children. Iron deficiency can have a permanent impact on brain development, making the child less able to learn. Iron-deficient youngsters may also not gain enough weight, have problems with feeding and digestion, get easily tired and become more prone to infections and illness.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Meningococcal Disease Rates

As at 20 April 2001, the provisional number of cases of meningococcal disease in 2001 was 136, with five deaths. At the same time in 2000, there were 90 cases and two deaths. Since 1 January 1991, a total of 3687 cases of all groups of meningococcal disease have been notified, including 163 deaths.

People feeling ill, or parents or caregivers with a child who has a fever, is refusing food, vomiting, has a headache, rash or spots, should seek medical treatment. If symptoms become worse, they should go back to the doctor.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Child Abuse Detection Guidelines

The nature of doctors' work means they often deal with the reality of abuse. Medical professionals have felt some uncertainty at times about how they should react when child abuse or neglect is suspected. A new booklet gives doctors clear information on how to recognise signs of abuse and how to refer cases on to Child, Youth and Family or the police.

The booklet will be made available to all doctors. Its contents include:

  • a master copy of a fax form for alerting Child, Youth and Family to concerns;
  • a recommended abuse referral process to be followed;
  • clear information about the signs of abuse and neglect; and
  • advice on legal issues.

Later this year the Ministry of Health will be organising a training programme for all health professionals on the wider issue of family violence. Child, Youth and Family is continuing negotiations with a number of other organisations on the best ways they can report suspected child abuse.

The guidelines can be viewed on-line at www.rnzcgp.org.nz

Health Home Visiting Service

Home delivery of health information will be the reality for many Tokoroa families when they take part in a Ministry of Health home visiting service pilot project this year. The home visiting service involves community workers visiting households to provide information, health education, community support and help to access other local services.

The project is based on the belief that taking health information services into the home is the best way to link many people to services, and to deliver health education in areas such as parenting skills, child development, teenage health or alcohol and drug-related issues.

The pilot service is voluntary which means it is up to individual members of the community to decide if they want to use the services on offer. It's a free service for those most in need. As well as home visiting there will be community education sessions run on a broad range of health promotion, social and educational topics.

The paid community workers will come from a variety of backgrounds. They could be nurses, social workers, parents or other people in the community who have gone through the required training. They will have a range of skills and experience but will be employed mostly for their ability to develop effective relationships.

Algal Bloom Returns

The toxic algal bloom that stopped shellfish gathering on the Hawke's Bay's coastline last November has returned. The algae - Gymnodinium cantentatum - causes paralytic shellfish poisoning which can lead to death in severe cases if medical treatment isn't immediately available. People are warned against taking shellfish in the area from Cape Kidnappers to Waipatiki Beach, north of Napier. The previous bloom, which was the most toxic seen in NZ waters, affected large areas of the North Island coast for over 8 months until mid-February this year. At one stage, the bloom threatened the mussel farms of the Marlborough Sounds.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

School Suspensions Project

A new project aims to reduce the number of students being suspended from school. The Suspensions Reduction Initiative will bring together clusters of secondary schools in areas that have high rates of student suspension so they can address the issue. The main focus will be to reduce the high proportion of Maori students being suspended from school. Up to 18 clusters will be formed, each with between three and six schools.

The Government is putting $1.05 million into the project in 2001, rising to $2.1 million in following years. This funding will provide support to students, to principals and to school boards, and help them to deal with this growing problem. Some of it will be used to support local initiatives developed by the clusters of schools.

Latest Wine Export Figures

Industry sales to overseas buyers reached a record $204 million to the end of March 2001, up 35% on the previous year (exports have more than doubled from $97 million in the past 3 years). The most notable growth was in the US, where exports have increased from $14 million to almost $40 million since 1999.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Business/Customs Joint Project

Businesses are teaming up with Customs officials to keep an eye out for drug smugglers and contraband in return for having their red tape cut. Currently, businesses that import components to be used in manufactured products destined for overseas markets have to pay duty and GST on those parts and then claim it back once they are exported.

Under the new 'Frontline' scheme, they can simply register those components with Customs, avoiding having money tied up for months. In return, the businesses learn how to identify risk packages and activities, and will pass on any suspicions to Customs. Three partners - super yacht builder NZ Yachts, TNT Express Worldwide, and the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation - have signed agreements with NZ Customs. Other partner businesses are expected to be signed on in the coming months.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Failed SOE Sold

Failed SOE, Terralink, is to be sold to a NZ-based consortium, comprising NZ Aerial Mapping (NZAM) and Dunedin-based Animation Research Limited (ARL). The Government called in the receivers in January after cost overruns on a $12 million contract with computer giant, EDS, threw the viability of the company into doubt.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

E-Government Moves Closer

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has selected Unisys NZ Ltd to help put in place the project to improve public access to legislation. The Government plans to make authoritative, accurate, and up-to-date versions of NZ legislation available without charge through the Internet. Print access will continue to be provided at a reasonable price.

The next stage in the project involves the detailed planning, scoping, and analysis necessary to properly identify the processes and systems required to improve public access to legislation.

"E-learning" Advisory Group Set Up

This group will advise the Ministry of Education on NZ's e-learning infrastructure and capability, and the way forward for developing an overall direction for increasing the e-learning capability of the tertiary sector. The group is to report to the Ministry by the end of October. Specific tasks of the group will include:

  • suggesting steps that can be taken to get co-operation, collaboration and the sharing of resources;
  • identifying barriers to developing further e-learning capability and the means to address these barriers;
  • evaluating good practice in flexible teaching and learning;
  • advising on ways to identify, monitor and manage any risks that may emerge;
  • advising on how e-learning can contribute to the export education industry; and
  • developing systems for ensuring good standards are kept up and intellectual property rights are managed in a way that ties in with international developments.

Maori Broadcasting Survey Results

In the Report of the Maori Affairs Committee 1999/2000 'Financial Review of Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi', reference was made to an AC Nielson Survey which found "that 86 percent of the Maori population had a preference for mixed language programmes. The programme 'Marae' had a large audience when it was broadcast in a mixed language format, but this audience has halved since the programme was changed to 100 percent Maori format."

Te Mangai Paho (TMP), which has the statutory function of promoting Maori language and culture in broadcasting, "acknowledged that large sectors of the Maori population do not have the capability to understand 100 percent Maori programming". It justified its focus on 100 percent Maori programming by saying that it "hopes the language will eventually 'spill over' in a meaningful way to sectors of the population with a low capability in the Maori language by way of the whanau and marae" (as has been the case in Wales with the Gaelic language).

Thanks to 'The Capital Letter'

Maori Language Survey Started

A survey to gauge the health of the Maori language started in early May. The nation-wide project, run by Statistics NZ on behalf of the Ministry of Maori Development, Te Puni Kokiri, is the most comprehensive survey ever carried out on the subject.

Around 7000 Maori aged 15 years and over will be asked questions such as how often they use te reo Maori, where they use it and how well they speak the language. Other questions will cover Maori language use in childhood, Maori language courses, and Maori language on radio and TV. A previous survey in 1995 showed that 8% of Maori adults were fluent in the language. The survey results will be published in April next year.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

NZ On Air - Local Music Content .

From the Report of the Commerce Committee, 1999/2000 'Financial Review of NZ On Air' comes the following. "In the last 5 years the local music content of NZ radio broadcasts has increased from 2% in 1994/95 to over 10.54% in 1999/2000. NZ On Air aims to have 15-20% local music on NZ radio within 2 years."

Thanks to 'The Capital Letter'

. and, the Least Popular Radio Programmes

From the same report (in the most disliked programme table) comes the following most disliked radio programmes: Tagata o te Moana (Pacific news and features), 42%; Mana News, 39%; Sunday Hymns, 31%; Jazz, 30%; Today in Parliament, 20%.

Thanks to 'The Capital Letter'

Forestry MOU with China

Last month MAF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State Forestry Administration of China. The MOU sets up a Joint Forestry Commission between the two countries. The Commission will promote collaboration in forestry science and technology, organise exchanges of personnel, promote an effective exchange of information, and provide a framework under which specific forestry issues can be addressed such as sustainable forest management, research, trade and market regulatory issues.

China has a huge appetite for wood, with over 60 million cubic metres consumed each year, including over 20 million cubic metres of imports. NZ, however, exports only half a million cubic metres of wood to China - so there's thought to be huge opportunities to expand trade (especially as NZ supply from planted forests is forecast to increase dramatically in the next 3 years). Further opportunities are expected with China's probable entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO

Seafood Economic

A survey commissioned by the Seafood Industry Council shows the sector contributes about $1.7 billion to NZ's gross domestic product (GDP) and provides the equivalent of over 26,500 full-time jobs. Processing is the industry's biggest contributor, currently making up 61% of output and almost three-quarters of full-time equivalent jobs. The study also found Nelson - which generates nearly 25% the industry's total contribution to GDP - derived $382 million and 5440 full-time equivalent jobs from the industry (two-thirds came from processing wild-caught fish, mainly hoki, and mussels and salmon from marine farms in the Marlborough Sounds).

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Singapore CEP Benefits Trade

Trade with Singapore has increased, following the start-up of the Closer Economic Partnership (CEP), that came into effect on 1 January this year. NZ Customs Service figures for January-March show an increase in trade of 19% compared to the same three months last year. Imports were up 11% and exports were up 27%.

Trans-Tasman Lamb Win

NZ and Australia have won their challenge to the United States tariffs and quotas on lamb imports. The WTO's disputes panel had ruled earlier that the regime imposed by the Clinton Administration to protect American sheep farmers breached trade rules, but the United States appealed against the ruling. That appeal has now been rejected.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Banking Survey Results

The latest KPMG annual Financial Institutions Performance Survey - which ranks banks, finance companies and other financial institutions based on performance and profitability measures - showed 2000 was another year of record profitability for the sector. The National Bank took out the top ranking this year, while BNZ and ANZ shared second place, followed by WestpacTrust and ASB Bank. WestpacTrust was the largest bank in terms of total assets and bottom-line profitability (Update: WestpacTrust recently announced a net profit of $216 million in the 6 months to March, up 16% the same period last year, and BNZ recently announced a net profit of $221 million for the same period, a 26% increase on last year's figures).

Other results include:

  • overall, institutions' underlying performance - operating income less expenses - improved 16% to $2.6 billion, while their total assets grew 16.5% to $175 billion;
  • mortgage lending still dominated (47%), although commercial and financial lending was the area of greatest growth;
  • the total number of EFTPOS transactions in 2000 reached 483.8 million, up from 450.3 million in 1999, while the use of credit cards continued to grow, up from 3% to 13% of non-cash payment types; and
  • branch networks continued to shrink but not at the same levels as during the early or mid 90s, with branches and staff numbers down 2% and 3%, respectively, on 1999.
Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Working Holidays - Sweden

Sweden has become the 14th country NZ has signed a working holiday scheme with. From 1 July this year an unlimited number of young NZers will be able to have working holidays in Sweden while 300 young Swedes will have the opportunity of working holidays here. Working holiday schemes already exist with Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and Chile. People interested in working in one of these countries should contact the embassy of the relevant country.

Air NZ/US Joint Venture

Air NZ has signed a deal with a major engine maker from the US to develop an international engine repair and maintenance venture. The joint venture with Pratt and Whitney is to be based alongside Air NZ's engineering base in Christchurch. The project is expected to generate revenues of $200 million in its first year, rising to $400 million a year in five years. Up to 300 Christchurch engineering employees will transfer from Air NZ to the new organisation to be known as the "Christchurch Engine Centre".

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

New International Air Agreement

A five-way international air services agreement was signed in Washington recently. The 'open skies' agreement links Brunei Darussalam, Chile, NZ, Singapore and the US. The main idea behind the agreement is to give airlines the opportunity for greater flexibility in the range of services they could provide.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

New Air Agreement with Germany

Under this agreement, the airlines of each country may operate over any routing and with unlimited aircraft capacity. This includes the right for cargo airlines of NZ and Germany to establish themselves in the other country and operate services to third countries with no requirement that the services touch the airline's home country. Also agreed was the right to carry certain passengers between domestic points in the other country, where this forms part of an international service. Germany is the second largest source of European visitors to NZ, with over 53,000 arrivals in the year ended February. In 2000 spending by German tourists contributed $190 million to NZ's economy.

Instant Fines Start This Month

Travellers who bring prohibited food and plant matter into the country will face instant fines sooner than planned. The $200 fines were due to come into force from July, but it's been decided to put them into place from 18 June.

Trans-Tasman Business Alliances Mooted

NZ and Australian high tech exporters are being encouraged to combine their collective strengths to gain entry into overseas markets. Trade promotion agency, Trade NZ, and its Australian counterpart, Austrade, are organising a new Trans-Tasman Technology Alliance Forum to explore opportunities for technology companies to work together. The Forum is to be held in Christchurch and Auckland on 26 and 28 June, respectively.

The aim is to help complementary high tech exporters on both sides of the Tasman form strategic alliances to leapfrog into third markets. Such alliances would see two or more companies combining their resources and strengths to build their export business more effectively, in terms of marketing and distribution networks and the value of the product they offered overseas clients. Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Trial Cultivation of Industrial Hemp

The cultivation of trial plots of industrial hemp is to be allowed under strict guidelines. The trial will be run for two growing seasons. The trials are being done to evaluate if the crop can be successfully grown here and what varieties are most suitable for our conditions. They are a simple agricultural trial and will not establish if a crop is commercially viable.

Insulation, textiles, cosmetics, oils and rope are the most common uses of industrial hemp.

Strict guidelines are being put in place because hemp, regardless of how it is used, falls within the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

The level of THC for industrial hemp must be less than 0.35% of the dry weight of the plant - and in some varieties will be even less. The level of THC is roughly 10 to 20 times lower than that found in illicit cannabis cigarette and would not give anyone consuming it a "high".

Police Vehicles - Link-Line Radios

All Highway Patrol vehicles are being equipped with link-line radios. Link-line radios allow police officers to remain in radio contact when they are in remote areas where there is no portable radio coverage, or when they are required to work away from their vehicles. The Highway Patrol is a specialist group to police NZ's state highways. Eventually the Highway Patrol will boast 225 staff and 183 vehicles.

Decline in Leprosy

A 10-year campaign to reduce leprosy has been a major success, according to the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO says leprosy has been cut by more than 90% across the globe, with an estimated 11 million people being cured of the ailment over the last 15 years. Increased access to early diagnosis and a multi-drug therapy treatment, which stops transmission and prevents disabilities, has been credited with helping eliminate the disease. However, the disease is still a threat in India, which has 70% of the world's leprosy sufferers, and the disease is also still endemic in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar and Nepal.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

More Planets Found

An international team of astronomers have announced the discovery of 11 new planets orbiting nearby stars. It brings the total number of known so-called 'exoplanets' (that is, planets outside our own solar system) to 63, all discovered since 1992.

Previous PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

Contact for Enquiries

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington

Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
Contact this person

 
Display a printer friendly version of this page Print friendly




Biosecurity New Zealand Web Site

New Zealand Fast Forward