Update

Update

Getting Rid of Yellow Fire Extinguishers

The Government and the fire protection industry are co-operating to get rid of potentially dangerous yellow halon fire extinguishers most commonly used in boats, caravans and baches. Halon fire extinguishers are extremely dangerous, not only because they may fail in a fire but because halon 1211 is very damaging to the ozone layer. The amount of ozone destroyed by one small fire extinguisher would fill many hundreds of dairy tankers.

Yellow extinguishers have not been manufactured or comprehensively serviced in NZ since the early 1990s and may fail in a fire. They were once commonly found in homes and workplaces but as they became out of date they have gradually moved to baches, caravans and boats.

When yellow extinguishers are recovered they are sent to Australia for destruction in purpose-built facilities. This costs $20 per extinguisher and will be covered by the fire protection companies and the Ministry for the Environment. Fire protection companies, including the two biggest, Wormald Fire Protection and Chubb Systems & Services, are also offering special prices on new red fire extinguishers when yellow fire extinguishers are handed-in.

Consumers can also call: 0800 HALONHELP for information about participating retailers in their area

Cold Spring Costs $400 Million: MAF

MAF says dairy will be the hardest hit of all rural industries by the coldest spring in 30 years. Overall, it estimates the impact that storms, frost and hail and generally cold conditions on livestock and crop production will cost farmers and orchardists $400 million. However, MAF believes dairy farmers will collectively lose more than $81 million from lower milk production.

Sheep farmers will also lose out on several counts. MAF estimates the severe spring storms in the south of the South Island accounted for a quarter of a million lamb losses. Assuming those lambs would have fetched an average price of around $60 a head, the farm-gate loss will be more than $15 million. But the loss of production from lower carcass weights will cost farmers more – an estimated $27 million – and lower wool production from the slow spring will be even more costly: $58 million.

MAF estimates also confirm the heavy toll that frost and hail will exact on fruit grower incomes this year. It puts the loss in kiwifruit production at eight million trays, worth more than $57 million. Frost and hail in Hawkes bay and Nelson will reduce the apple crop by more than two million cartons, and growers’ incomes by $27 million. And the grape harvest will be down by 30,000 tonnes, squeezing $54 million out of grower returns.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

NZ Slips in Competitiveness Survey

NZ has slipped down the latest rankings that look at the competitiveness of the economy and the prospects for growth over the next five to eight years. The report by the World Economic Forum shows NZ slipped two places to 22nd in terms of its competitive environment, and fell six places to 16th when looking at its prospects. Two years ago, NZ ranked 19th in both categories. Top of the table was the US with Finland second.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

OECD Forecasts Three percent Growth

The OECD is predicting the NZ economy will grow by an average of more than 3% over the next two years. The forecasts out to 2005 are generally more optimistic than those of the Reserve Bank, tipping growth of 3% next year and 3.4% in 2004. This year the OECD believes growth is slowing in the second half of the year, and will see GDP rise by 4% – the third highest in the 30 member OECD behind Korea and the Slovak Republic.

The report says the NZ economy has cruised through the global turbulence, but it says business conditions are weakening. On the global scale the OECD report says a recovery in world economic growth could be delayed unless interest rates are cut further to boost confidence.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

NZ Good for Entrepreneurs

The 2002 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor run in 37 countries was released recently. The survey found that:

  • is one of the top ten most entrepreneurial countries in the world ahead of the US, Australia and Canada;
  • NZ business environment was the most conducive to business start-ups of any country in the world;
  • rate themselves very highly, as having the necessary skills and experience to start a new business, and NZ women rank themselves higher than women in any of the other countries; and
  • are far more entrepreneurial than other nations in the 35–64 year old age groups.

The survey of 2,836 NZers and 113,282 people around the world in 36 countries indicated that there are about 341,000 entrepreneurs in NZ.

Who Do We Trust Most?

Reader’s Digest surveyed 750 NZers from all walks of life to find out the professions, institutions and brands we trust and rely on. Results of the survey included:

  • top five trusted professions for this year are ambulance officers in top place, followed by fire-fighters, nurses, pilots and doctors taking fifth place;
  • up the five least trusted professions are journalists, trade unionists, marketers and car salesmen, followed by politicians in last place; and
  • are more likely to trust banks (tenth) and accountants (fourteenth) than religious ministers (sixteenth).

The survey also featured 27 brand and product/service categories including most trusted telephone company, bank, credit card, tea, toothpaste and others. Findings included:

  • is 2002’s most overall trusted brand and most trusted telephone company;
  • prefer to wake up to a bowl of Weet-Bix, deliver their winning smile with Colgate and sit down with a hot cup of Bell tea at the end of the day;
  • to other car brands as Toyota comes up trumps for most trusted car in NZ;
  • relieve our pain with Panadol, feed the cat with Whiskas; shop at New World and Farmers and charge our purchases on Visa; and
  • trust National Bank as preferred bank for its customer service and security and it was also most trusted home loan or mortgage provider.

Full survey results are published in the December issue of Reader’s Digest.

The Rise and Rise of Horticulture Exports

Horticultural exports continue to rise. The latest statistics from Statistics NZ confirm that horticulture is one of NZ’s top growth industries with exports to the year ended June 2002 reaching $2.1 billion. Kiwifruit and pipfruit are the star export performers again this year, with kiwifruit up 4% to $618.4 million, and apple exports increased 23.3% to $420.9 million. Other items of interest include:

  • kiwifruit orchards produce the highest yield in the world at about 22 tonnes per hectare compared with Chile at 19 tonnes per ha, and Italy at 16 tonnes per ha;
  • of grape wine continue to grow, up 24.9% to $230 million, or $249 million including sparkling wine exports;
  • exports were up 27.4% to $10.2 million (pears reached $18.8 million and apricots brought in $10.4 million);
  • fruit have gone up 10.2% to $327.1 million;
  • and squash continue to dominate the vegetable exports, at $100.8 million and $81.6 million respectively;
  • exports rose 9.6% to $28.2 million;
  • value of exported frozen and processed vegetables continued to rise, with a surprising 60.5% increase to $338.2 million in the export of vegetables in vinegar;
  • exports of fresh potatoes have dropped 32.1% to $9.4 million, frozen potatoes have more than filled the gap rising to $49.8 million;
  • had a disappointing year and dropped 22.1% to $15.7 million (the total frozen fruit exports also dropped, 35.6% to $5.3 million); and
  • flowers too are down, losing 6.8% to $47.8 million, but our olive oil exports are starting to take off, and although in dollar terms the earnings are still modest at about $274,000, that is a 301.1% jump from last year.

Record Earnings from Tourism

According to the latest International Visitor Survey, total expenditure by international visitors in NZ reached $5.9 billion in the year ended September 2002, an increase of $745 million or 14% over the previous year. What makes the figures even more interesting is that this large increase in expenditure was driven by a modest increase of international visitor arrivals of only 1.5%. So visitors are spending more while they are here.

The average spend per visit has now risen to $3,431. This performance has been achieved through both the increasing spending per day while in NZ (up 4% to $172 per day) and through increasing length of stay (up 9.2% to 20 days).

Further information on the latest International Visitor Survey data is available on the Ministry of Tourism website at www.tourism.govt.nz or by e-mailing the Ministry of Tourism at research@tourism.govt.nz

NIWA Picks Drier Cool Summer

Climate scientists are predicting a drier and cooler summer than normal for many parts of the country. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says the El Nino weather pattern will result in below-average rainfall in many areas, especially in the north and east of both main islands. Dry soil and lower river levels will hit the Auckland area, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough. Dry conditions will affect farming and horticulture, and increase the risk of wildfires during January. Temperatures will be average or below average in most areas, with the West Coast, inland Otago and Southland especially, predicted to have a cooler summer than usual.

Thanks to “NewsRoom

Very Cold Spring

The country has just experienced its coldest spring in 24 years. Latest seasonal figures from the NIWA Research show the average temperature during October and November was 12 degrees, one degree colder than average. Although it was colder in most places, many areas were also very dry — the Bay of Plenty recorded only half its average spring rainfall and parts of Northland, Gisborne, Nelson and Canterbury also had low rainfall. The spring also brought several severe hailstorms and frosts, which damaged crops and vineyards in the Nelson area and Hawke’s Bay.

Thanks to “NewsRoom

Sand Dunes on the Move

The difficult spring weather which has damaged fruit crops in parts of the country with frost and hail is causing damage of a different kind along the North Island West Coast. The strong westerly winds associated with the El Nino weather pattern are tearing at the extensive sand dune country stretching along the coastal strip from Kapiti to Wanganui. There has been damage to dune stabilisation schemes and planting and dune-shaping work in some areas will have to be redone.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

New Standing Order Regulations

New standing orders were issued by the Ministry of Health late last month. Standing orders are written instructions issued by a medical practitioner or dentist that allow nurses and some other healthcare workers to supply and administer certain medicines. Standing orders mean that when a GP is several hours away, a nurse can supply medicine to a patient, provided it is all correctly documented, is in the right amount, given at the right time, and at the correct dose.

The main aim of the new standing orders is to provide a clear legal framework and greater consistency in the administering of medicines. This could be especially relevant in rural areas, where often the only health professionals on the spot are nurses, who sometimes need to take urgent action.

Drug Resistant Bacteria in Chickens

Microbiologists have found a bacteria in up to 10% of NZ chickens which could have serious implications for treating the so called “hospital superbug” MRSA. New research has found that between 5 and 10% of chickens on poultry farms across the country have a bacteria called Vancomycin-Resistant Enterecoccus – or VRE. Vancomycin is an antibiotic considered to be the last defence in treating MRSA infections.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Stimulant Use Rises

A new report has found stimulant use has risen sharply, becoming the second most widely used illicit drug in NZ. The report says the use of amphetamines – also known as uppers or speed – increased from 2.9% of those surveyed in 1998 to 5% last year. Marijuana use remained static at 20%, and use of LSD was unchanged at 3%.

The researchers also found that the growing use of stimulants is especially marked among young people. Nearly 11% of all NZers aged 20 to 24, and 5% of those aged 15 to 17, have used amphetamines in the past year. One-fifth of users reported harmful effects on energy and vitality, and one in ten said it harmed their financial position, health and job.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Latest AIDS Figures

Well over 40 million people are now infected with HIV/Aids and more people are dying from the disease than ever before. The UNAids report, entitled Aids Epidemic Update 2002 says there were 3.1 million Aids-related deaths globally last year, while a further five million people were newly infected with the virus in the past year. Almost a million of these new infections were children under the age of 15. The report also revealed that more women than men are now infected with HIV/Aids.

UNAids says southern Africa remains at the epicentre of the Aids disaster, although the agency warns of major epidemics in Eastern Europe, China and India unless action is taken to tackle the disease. Around 30 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, 58% women, are estimated to have HIV/Aids, with about 3.5 million new infections last year. UNAids estimates that 8.8% of the adult population in sub-Saharan Africa has the virus, although in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe that figure climbs to over 30%.

In China and India, one million people have been diagnosed with HIV, although UNAids fears the true figures could be much higher and they warn the epidemic is very much “in its infancy” in these regions. Across the whole of east, south and south-east Asia, there were almost another million new infections during 2002.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Philip Morris to Pay Staff to Quit Smoking

The American tobacco firm, Philip Morris, has offered its Australian staff a one-off payment of almost $8000 to replace their entitlement to four cartons of cigarettes a month. This offer also comes with the putting in place of a smoke-free workplace.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Food Price Increases Loom

The Bakers Society is warning of big price rises for baked and processed goods as the cost of wheat skyrockets in response to the Australian drought. The drought, the worst in a century, has slashed Australia’s wheat crop by up to three-fifths, resulting in higher prices for Australian flour. Local wheat growers can meet the demand for flour in the South Island, but the North Island relies on imported flour, most of it from Australia.

The Bakers’ Society President says consumers can expect a price increase of around 10 cents for a loaf of bread, and up to 20 cents for a traditional meat pie. The director of the Feed Manufacturers Association, Michael Brooks, says chicken and pork prices may also rise, because farmers are paying more for grains used in stockfeed. And the Fruit and Vegetable Federation says lower yields resulting from the cold NZ spring will mean higher prices for many summer fruits and vegetables.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Young Migrants Adapting Well

A Massey University study shows young immigrants believe they are adapting well to the English language and to making friends with young NZers. More than 70% of 10-14 year olds studied felt their English reading and writing skills were the same or better than their ethnic language, and that it was easy to fit into NZ life. And 90% of 17-21 years olds said they had NZ friends.

But their teachers said some young people had problems with a different education system and in gaining employment. The authors say young immigrants and refugees are making a huge effort to fit in, but society still needs to do more to help them.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

“Enviroschools” Awards

Schools throughout the country can be rewarded for taking positive steps towards creating a sustainable school community, through the Enviroschools Awards scheme launched recently.

Enviroschools Awards are available to all schools at all levels. It is an incentive scheme for schools to become actively involved in environmental education and to undertake environmental initiatives that will make a real difference in their communities.

The awards scheme involves the whole school. This includes students, teachers, parents, the board of trustees and non-teaching staff and members of the local community, such as councils and businesses. The awards scheme offers schools a framework of projects and activities, across four areas of school life: organisational management, operational practices, physical surroundings and curriculum. Schools can complete the requirements for one or more areas and apply for bronze, silver, or green-gold awards to recognise their level of achievement.

The kinds of actions that schools will be involved in include reducing waste, conserving energy, involving students in decision-making, learning about better environmental practices, and protecting and enhancing native biodiversity. Schools can also gain credits for participating in regional environmental initiatives.

Money for More Teachers

Nine million dollars over three years is to be spent on increasing the number of secondary teachers in our schools. The new funding provides subsidies for student teachers specialising in english and chemistry. It will also help graduate teachers who can’t get teaching jobs in their local regions, to move into teaching positions in other areas of high demand, such as Auckland.

The extra funding extends the Secondary Subject Trainee Allowance (SSTA), introduced last year, to include the two new subjects. The five subjects initially targeted and still available for the allowance are maths, physics, computing, te reo Maori, and physical education.

More Funds for Childhood Education Centres

Eighty-nine early childhood education centres across NZ will receive $8.8 million to extend, upgrade or develop their buildings. This money will create an extra 1343 new places for children in licensed and chartered centres over the next year. Funding is from the early childhood education discretionary grants scheme which provides capital assistance to community-based not-for-profit early childhood services. The funding is focused on increasing participation for Maori, Pasifika and low socio-economic status children in quality early childhood services. Details of the funding are:

  • discretionary grants were made in the $2.4 million Maori pool, creating about 407 new places for Maori children in kohanga, immersion and bilingual services;
  • million for 20 Pasifika groups wanting to establish licensed and chartered early childhood education centres (creating an extra 240 places); and
  • grants creating about 696 new places for children in the General pool.

Project Probe Update

Unexpectedly high interest has resulted in an extension of the tender date for Project Probe, a country-wide initiative that will ensure all schools and communities, in rural areas and urban areas, have access to high speed Internet services (known as broadband). The Request for Proposal (PFP) is to be sent to the 18 selected suppliers in late December, with a closing date of late February 2003.

Also, a national satellite tender for remote areas has been added to the existing broadband tenders for 14 separate regions. The satellite tender, to be known as Region 15, will call for proposals from satellite providers for 150 to 300 schools and communities across the country. It’s expected that satellite providers will link in with the regional tenderers, as some satellite companies may not wish to offer a retail service. RFPs will go out to three or four satellite providers.

Responses to the RFPs will be evaluated in March or April next year, and contracts should start being signed around May or June.

New Trust to Protect Kiwi

A new trust is committing over $700,000 to help protect the Kiwi. The Department of Conservation and the Bank of NZ have launched the “Kiwi Trust” to build on the work of the existing Kiwi Recovery Programme. The trust’s money will be used by the Kiwi Recovery Programme for such things as fundraising and developing new breeding technologies.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Employment Relations Education Funding Announced

Twenty-one organisations including unions, employers and education providers have shared in a total of $2 million in the latest round of Employment Relations Education Funding. The funding, which comes from the Employment Relations Education (ERE) Contestable Fund, aims to promote understanding of how the Employment Relations Act, with its emphasis on good faith and collective bargaining, affects employment relations.

This is the third year money has been made available for ERE programmes and courses. An Advisory Committee made up of union, employer and education sector representatives approves the courses and makes recommendations to the Labour Minister on the allocation of the Fund.

Eligible employees can use leave provided under Part 7 of the Employment Relations Act to attend ERE courses.

Organisations to receive funding in this 2002/03 round were: Agriculture NZ ($100,000), Amalgamated Workers Union ($20,000), Association of University Staff ($39,923), ASTE ($38,474), Business NZ (Central) ($515,000), Clothing and Allied Workers Union ($39,488), EPMU ($127,131), Finsec ($85,600), Manufacturing and Construction Workers Union ($16,440), NDU ($118,700), NZ Blood Service ($1,762), NZ Dairy Workers Union ($36,000), NZ Meat Workers Union ($44,337), NZ Medical Association ($40,000), NZ Waterfront Workers Union ($45,000), NZCTU ($382,321), NZEI ($100,000), Otago-Southland Employers Association ($53,275), PPTA ($85,996), PSA ($2,250) and Te Ata Hou with AMPTEE ($64,463).

Information regarding ERE funding and course approval, and the list of approved courses, can be found on the Department of Labour's Employment Relations Service website at www.ers.dol.govt.nz

Public Tertiary Education Institutions Governance Review

The review of the governance arrangements of tertiary education institutions will be conducted by Professor Meredith Edwards, Director of the National Institute for Governance at the University of Canberra. The review will include, among other things:

  • brief review of previous work undertaken since 1990 regarding tertiary education governance in NZ;
  • “stock-take” of the present governance position in the NZ tertiary education sector, including present initiatives designed to improve governance capability and effectiveness;
  • of the partnership principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, principles of good governance, academic freedom and institutional autonomy; and
  • review of the relationships and roles of Chief Executives and Councils.

Professor Edwards will produce by the end of March 2003 a report that, for example:

  • good governance practice for the NZ public tertiary education sector;
  • best methods for new or changed governance structure(s);
  • on optimal ways of developing overall governance capability; and
  • a preferred option for governance in NZ tertiary education institutions.

PCA to be Given Independence

The Police Complaints Authority is to be given power to do its own independent investigations. Its annual report notes that relevant legislation will be introduced to Parliament shortly. Police now do investigations ordered by the Complaints Authority. But civil liberties groups and some lawyers say police officers, no matter how independent, should not be investigating their own colleagues. The annual report shows that 120 fewer complaint files were opened in the year to June than in the previous year. But well over half the 1,700 new files were still being investigated after June.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

New Status for Hector’s Dolphin

The critically endangered North Island Hector’s dolphin has for the first time been recognised as genetically different from its South Island relative. Scientists have found that the North Island dolphins differ from the South Island population in both their physical and genetic characteristics. The North Island dolphins have been classified as a separate subspecies and given a new official name, Cephalorhynchus hectori maui. The common-use name for the northern subspecies will be Maui’s dolphin, while the southern population will continue to be called Hector’s dolphin.

Data indicates there may be as few as 100 to 150 Maui’s dolphin still alive, making them as rare as the kakapo. The North Island dolphins are found only on the north-west coast of the North Island between New Plymouth and Dargaville, while the South Island Hector’s dolphins, which number just over 7000, are found almost all around the southern coasts.

Facts about Hector’s Dolphins

  • are one of the world’s smallest marine dolphins and are found only in NZ waters;
  • are mostly seen close to shore and in summer they frequent shallow waters less than 20 metres in depth;
  • are characterised by their distinctive grey, white and black markings, short snout and well-rounded black dorsal fin;
  • live for up to 20 years;
  • grow to 1.7 metres long; males are slightly smaller; and
  • other dolphins, they use echolocation to find their food (they send out high frequency “clicks” that bounce off surrounding objects and fish, giving the dolphins a detailed picture of their surroundings).

The Future of Work

A research programme to inform NZers about the way work is likely to develop in coming decades has been set up. The Department of Labour programme aims to raise awareness and understanding about future trends in work and the implications of these trends for the workplace, the workforce, employment opportunities and labour market regulation. It will include monitoring of long term trends in the labour market and international research that might inform NZers about the way work might develop in the future, fostering relevant NZ research, and disseminating information on the future of work.

The main themes of the Future of Work programme are:

  • changing economy: technology and globalisation change what we produce and how we produce it;
  • changing workplace: new employment relationships change the ways in which work is done;
  • changing workforce: the ageing of the population, international migration, and growing ethnic diversity are influencing the make-up of the workforce;
  • balance: reconciling commitments to work, family, and personal enrichment promises to be one of the most challenging issues for tomorrow's workers; and
  • education and training: the possession of the right skills has become increasingly important to successful participation in the labour market.

The new Future of Work website will be the front door for the programme. It helps answer questions about the way that the world of work is evolving, providing information about key influences, and providing access to current research and resources.

The website can be found at www.futureofwork.govt.nz

New Record Lambing Percentage

According to the Economic Service of Meat and Wool Innovation (MWI), the national lambing percentage reached a new record of 124% this spring (last season recorded 119%). New regional lambing percentage levels were achieved in the East Coast of the North Island (123%), Taranaki-Manawatu (126%), and Marlborough-Canterbury (126%). Elsewhere, the Northland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty (114%) and Otago (119%) regions were both within 1% of last season’s record, and Southland (130%) achieved its third-highest lambing percentage.

Overall, an estimated 37.0 million lambs were tailed this spring, 2.4% above the total from last spring (this was despite a reduction in breeding ewe numbers of 1.3%). North Island lambs tailed were up by about 3.5% (+0.55 million) on the previous year to their highest total since 1991. South Island lamb numbers increased by an estimated 1.6% (+0.33 million). Based on the number of lambs tailed established from this survey, the export lamb availability for the 2002/03 season lifts 4% from the previous year to 24.8 million head.

New Organic Certification Label

A new organic certification label, OrganicFarmNZ, was launched recently. OrganicFarmNZ will enable small-scale organic growers to sell their product on the local market, while giving consumers confidence that the food they buy is of the same standard as that produced under the well-known Bio-Gro, Demeter and Certenz labels. The new label has been set up by the Soil and Health Association of NZ with funding from MAF.

OrganicFarmNZ has been designed to minimise costs for producers by operating through a system of peer review. An external audit conducted by Bio-Gro will ensure that goods grown under the OrganicFarmNZ label will be of a high standard. The scheme will operate on a region-by-region basis, each with their own management bodies and producer groups that will be known as “pods”. Regional management bodies will have the role of developing and co-ordinating the scheme.

Fonterra Opens Health Products Unit

Identifying, capturing and maximising the health benefits of milk bioactives is the aim of a new business unit opened by Fonterra. The Health and Nutrition specialty ingredients unit, located in Auckland, incorporates existing products from the three legacy companies. The unit’s main areas of focus include ingredients products aimed at showing benefits for the immune system, modified milks, bone health, dermatology, gastrointestinal, therapeutics, sports and animal health.

Key markets for specialty ingredients products include the US, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Malaysia, with markets emerging in South America, Australia, the Middle East and NZ.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Shearers’ Register Proposed

Shearing contractors are looking at a registration scheme for shearers and wool-handlers which they hope will help to overcome long-term recruitment problems in the industry. The idea has been talked about for years, but is starting to take more definite shape as the Shearing Contractors Association sees the need to develop a more formal career structure for the wool harvesting workforce.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Maui Pipeline Access to Expand

The Government is moving to open up access to the Maui gas pipeline so that gas from other fields will able to be used to fill demand when the Maui field has run out. The early closure in 2007 of the country’s largest gas field was announced last year, causing major concern about future supplies. At present only Maui gas can be transported through the pipeline and the Government wants to prepare for when that supply dries up. The Energy Minister has asked the industry to come up with the best way to open the pipeline to gas from other fields.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

National Salary and Wage Survey

Pay rates for the year ended July were an average 3.82% higher than for 2001, according to the National Salary and Wage Survey conducted by the Employers and Manufacturers Association. The survey also indicated business is expecting to take on more employees and that business conditions will remain in good heart during the current year. Responses to the survey were received from 692 enterprises employing 103,800 people. Over half the firms participating had annual turnover of $10 million or less. Main results include:

  • of the participating enterprises expected to take on more staff in the year ahead (last year the figure was 70%); and
  • of firms in July believed business conditions would improve over the year, down from 71% last year.

The main conclusion drawn by the Association, from these results, is that business is expecting to grow by employing more people rather than from expanding output capacity by installing more plant and equipment. From this it is inferred that the constraints to faster economic growth are most likely to be related to skills development and the availability of labour (this inference was supported by a “straw poll” conducted amongst Association members).

AgriQuality Buys Genescan

State-owned quality assurance and verification agency, AgriQuality, has bought the Melbourne laboratory of Genescan, who specialise in GM testing. The move is in preparation for an increased demand for testing for genetically modified foods (AgriQuality’s own lab services did not have the capacity for GMO testing). As well as buying the Melbourne laboratory, AgriQuality has an agreement with Genescan to use its testing systems.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Telecom’s New Connection Charges

Telecom has adopted a new pricing structure for new connections. The top standard fee for a new connection will be $500. It replaces the price on application category announced earlier which would have seen customers paying $1500 or more. Telecom has also adopted a programme that will enable customers facing the standard new connection fee to pay just $95 if they genuinely can’t afford more. That assessment will be made by an independent organisation. Details of the connection price structure are:

  • Density $95;
  • Density $250;
  • Density $500;
  • cost connections (same criteria as previously applied, that is, one-third actual cost);
  • income customers who meet concession criteria* $95; and
  • charge $45.

* Applies to customers in both Medium and Low Density categories.

Regional TV Licences Granted

Non-commercial television licences have been granted to the East Coast Television Trust (operating out of Gisborne) and the Tararua Television Charitable Trust (operating out of Pahiatua). The stations will broadcast a combination of locally-made and internationally-sourced programmes. With non-commercial UHF licences now approved both trusts can get on with setting up their infrastructure and their planning to go to air.

Commission to Prosecute Qantas and Air NZ

The Commerce Commission is to prosecute Qantas and Air NZ for misleading advertising of airfares. The decision to prosecute both airlines comes hot on the heels of two recent prosecutions by the Commission:

  • Airlines was fined $7,500 plus costs for misleading advertising. The charges were brought against the company following newspaper and television advertising last year of an $889 flight and accommodation package to Samoa. Despite the nation-wide coverage of the advertising, the offer was only available ex-Auckland, which was not stated.
  • Air was fined $10,000, having pleaded guilty to eight breaches of the Fair Trading Act in advertising the cost of airfares. The charges followed an investigation into the company’s newspaper and website advertising – which failed to disclose up-front the full cost of airfares to consumers.

KFC Fined Again

Restaurant Brands Limited, trading as KFC, was fined $13,630 recently after pleading guilty to 21 breaches of the Weights and Measures Act 1987. The offences related to short-weight bean salad in three Auckland branches, and were brought to the attention of the authorities by a customer. In 1997 Restaurant Brands Limited was convicted of 23 charges relating to the sale of short-weight bean salad, potato and gravy, and coleslaw (they were fined $24,135). Consumers who are concerned they have been sold short weight or measure goods should contact their nearest Ministry of Consumer Affairs Trading Standards Service listed in the blue pages of their telephone book.

Banking Complaints Up

There has been a 12% jump in the number of disputes between banks and customers which reach the Banking Ombudsman. The Ombudsman, Liz Brown, received 409 dispute cases in the year to June 2002, compared with 364 cases in the previous year.

The Ombudsman says she is getting significantly more complaints about investment services provided by banks. She says tellers at several banks are required to suggest that customers with substantial sums in a savings account or term deposit see an in-house investment adviser, and that as a consequence, some customers feel they get talked into higher risk investments which they may not want. Other areas of increasing dispute include charging customers for debt collection, and not recognising separation agreements.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Foodstuffs to Host Bank Branches

NZ’s largest supermarket operator Foodstuffs is moving into banking, signing a joint venture with Australia’s St George Bank. Banking services will be offered at Foodstuffs four supermarket brands from early next year, and brings Australia’s fifth largest bank to NZ.

Initially, the new bank will offer mainly Internet and telephone banking, and progressively offer mortgages and other banking services. The deal will extend Foodstuff's diversification as it faces increased competition from the merged Progressive Enterprises-Woolworths chains, now both owned by Perth’s Foodland Associated. Foodstuffs is already rolling out petrol stations at its Pak N Save supermarkets in conjunction with BP, with the first due to open early next month.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Screw Cap Success

A screw-capped wine has been named NZ’s top wine for the first time. Villa Maria’s 2001 Reserve Pinot Noir took the Champion title at the Air NZ Wine Awards, also becoming only the second pinot noir to win in the contest’s 16-year history. Two more screw-capped wines – Te Whare Ra’s Duke of Marlborough Gewurztraminer and Palliser Estate’s Pinot Gris – were also judged best of their variety.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

US Award for NZ Wine

The US based Wine Enthusiast magazine named NZ the Wine Region of the Year, passing over Chile, Portugal, the US, Germany and even France for its annual award. The magazine editor says NZ is already famous for its Sauvignon Blancs and the consistently good quality of NZ wine and the innovation, good value and diversity of varieties helped it win the award.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

AFFCO Announces Loss

North Island meat processing company AFFCO Holdings Limited has announced an after tax loss for the full 2001/02 year of $12.3 million. A strengthening NZ dollar and softening international beef markets were key factors in seeing revenues fall by $211 million to $991.9 million, the company said. Additionally, the full year result included $2.8 million of non-recurring costs incurred as part of the AFFCO’s restructuring programme, which will culminate with the relocation of AFFCO’s head office to Horotiu, near Hamilton. No dividend will be declared.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Strait Shipping Confirms New Ferry

Tranz Rail’s monopoly on getting large numbers of people across the Cook Strait is set to end with a rival freight operator’s purchase of a passenger ferry. Strait Shipping’s new ferry is expected to be operating by Christmas. The ship will take 200 passengers as well as cars and freight, and initially there will be two sailings a day from both Wellington and Picton.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Changes to Immigration Rules

The main changes to the rules governing General Skills and Business categories for migrants that came into force on 19 November were that:

  • level of English required for General Skills applicants went up to an average score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (the current level is 5); and
  • level for Business applicants increased from 4 to 5 (the level for secondary applicants was standardised at 5, and for the first time an English language test now applies to Long Term Business Visa applicants, also at IELTS level 5).

The increase in language requirements was also included in changes to the Job Search Visa criteria. Applicants now need an average score of 6.5 as well as having qualifications required for occupations on the NZ Immigration Service’s (NZIS) Occupational Shortages List.

EU Takes Step To Animal Testing Ban

European Union (EU) member states and deputies from the European Parliament have struck a deal paving the way for a ban on cosmetic products and ingredients tested on animals within the EU. It will come into force in 2009, which gives companies time to develop beauty products that can be tested without the use of animals. The directive must still be formally approved by the European Parliament and the 15 member states.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Changes To Varroa Control Areas

MAF has made changes to movement controls for the varroa honey bee mite in order to slow the spread of the parasite into the southern North Island. MAF tests at 450 apiaries in the lower North Island show the level of infestation remains very low, at just 25 sites. Most are within 15 kilometres of the movement control line stretching across the North Island from Taranaki to East Cape, but infested hives have also been found at Marton, Wanganui and at Pauatahanui, just north of Wellington. In two regions immediately south of the line varroa has become well established so the line has been moved a little bit to reflect that. Testing of more than 20,000 hives in the South Island has confirmed that it remains free of varroa, so far.

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

NZ’s Supreme Sausage

Heller Tasty’s “London Pride” Sausage is NZ’s Supreme Sausage For 2002. The supreme sausage was determined from the seven category winners judged late last month. The category medal winners were as follows:

(1) Beef: Waihi Beach Butchery; 

(2) Pork: Drury Meats Ltd; 

(3) Pre-Cooked: Cashmere Cuisine; 

(4) Saveloy: Cashmere Cuisine; 

(5) Traditionally Flavoured: Bells Continental Smallgoods (Thuringer Bratwurst); 

(6) International: Heller Tasty Ltd (London Pride); and 

(7) Gourmet: Cashmere Cuisine (Curry Fruit)

NZ Cool Invention

A high tech jacket featuring electronic textile technology that NZ’s Wool Research Organisation helped develop has made it onto Time Magazine’s list of this year’s coolest inventions. The snow-boarding jacket, made in the US, allows its wearer to control a built-in mini-disk system using a fabric keyboard woven into the sleeve.

It is the first commercial product using Softswitch technology that grew out of a joint research project by WRONZ and a British electronics company, Peratech. It makes fabrics touch sensitive and interactive, allowing them to function as switches or sensors to control electronic devices. The limited release electronic snow-boarding jacket is available for NZ$2000.00

Thanks to “NewsRoom”

Drugs and Young People Conference

An international conference on drugs and young people – which focuses on solutions – is to be held in Wellington from 26–28 May 2003. This international conference provides an opportunity for everyone interested in understanding the impact of alcohol and other drugs on the lives of young people. The emphasis is on charting a course for the future in order to prevent or reduce alcohol and other drug related harm.

Several invited speakers will address the theme of “Focusing on Solutions – The Way Forward”. There will also be a wide range of oral papers, interactive sessions and poster presentations. Conference streams include:

  • and other drug use patterns and cultures;
  • and other drug prevention/health promotion;
  • and other drug education/training;
  • intervention;
  • and other drug treatment; and
  • and law enforcement issues.

If you have any enquiries regarding this conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat, PO Box 818, North Melbourne Victoria 3051, Australia, tel +61(03) 9278 8101, fax +61(03) 9328 3008, email events@adf.org.au website: www.adf.org.au

Previous PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

Contact for Enquiries

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

Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
Contact this person

 
Print this page Print this page




WebSite survey