Update

Update

Who Pays Tax ... and How Much?

Taken from, "Budget 2005, Key Facts for Taxpayers"

Individual Taxable Number of People Tax Paid

Individual Taxable

Number of People

Tax Paid

Income ($)

(000)

%

$M

%

Zero

178

6

0

0

1-10,000

495

16

311

1

10-20,000

994

32

2,471

12

20-30,000

360

12

1,674

8

30-40,000

309

10

2,135

10

40-50,000

253

8

2,448

12

50-60,000

141

5

1,824

9

60-70,000

104

3

1,725

8

70-100,000

141

5

3,251

15

This table includes Tax on NZ Superannuation and major social welfare benefits, but excludes ACC levies and anyone who is under 15. Data are projected for the year ended 2006.

National Climate Summary - Autumn 2005

  • Sunshine: Record high sunshine in the north of the North Island; above average over much of the South Island.
  • Rainfall: Record rainfall in parts of the Bay of Plenty; above average in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa; well below average in Northland.
  • Soil moisture: Severe deficits throughout Northland during early and mid-autumn.
  • Temperature: Above average in the north of the North Island, below average in south Canterbury and north Otago.

Autumn was a season of regional contrasts. There were record sunshine totals in Northland and Auckland, with some areas having their sunniest autumn in over 40 years. Autumn rainfall in Bay of Plenty, however, was double its normal level in a number of districts that suffered extremely high rainfall events. Tauranga Airport recorded 751 mm, the highest autumn rainfall since records commenced in 1898.

In contrast, rainfall was less than 50 percent (half) of normal in much of Northland. Kaikohe recorded 151 mm, the lowest autumn rainfall since recording began in 1972. Severe significant soil moisture deficits occurred in Northland during March and April.

Seasonal mean temperatures were above average in the north of the North Island, as well as parts of Manawatu. However, they were below average in south Canterbury and north Otago. The autumn national average temperature of 13.4ºC was the same as the 1971-2000 normal. The overall autumn climate pattern was dominated by more frequent troughs of low pressure over the North Island with westerlies over southern NZ.

Of the four main centres, Auckland was, by far, the sunniest and Dunedin the driest. Rainfall was above average in Wellington, near average in Christchurch, and below average in Auckland and Dunedin. Temperatures were above average in Auckland, near average in Wellington, and below average in the two other main centres. Sunshine hours were well above average in Auckland and Dunedin, and near average in Wellington and Christchurch. Record autumn sunshine hours were observed in Auckland.

National Climate Summary - June 2005

  • Rainfall: Rainfall was 25 percent (quarter) of normal or less in Marlborough, Canterbury, and parts of Otago, and less than 50 percent (half) of normal in Kapiti, Horowhenua, and Wellington. Totals were also below normal in Bay of Plenty, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wairarapa, and parts of Nelson. Rainfall was above normal in Hawke's Bay and Southland.
  • Sunshine: Sunshine hours were well above average in much of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Buller, Westland, inland South Canterbury, and Otago, and also above average in Bay of Plenty. Sunshine hours were well below average in West Otago.
  • Temperature: Temperatures were near average throughout much of the North Island and the north of the South Island. They were below average in Canterbury, Southland, and Otago.
  • The four main centres: Christchurch was the driest and Auckland the warmest. Rainfall was below average in all four centres. Temperatures were above average in Auckland, near average in Dunedin, and below average in Wellington and Christchurch. Sunshine hours were well above average in Auckland and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Christchurch.

Thanks to NIWA

Seasonal Climate Outlook: July-September 2005

Slightly Milder Overall, Drier than Normal in the North and East

  • Climate and Oceans: More westerlies to the south, with sea temperatures around NZ tending to be near average. The tropical Pacific is presently in a neutral state (no El Niño or La Niña). Conditions are likely to stay in the neutral range through the rest of 2005.
  • Temperature: Air temperatures are expected to be near average or above average in all regions. Despite this, cold outbreaks typical of winter will nevertheless occur from time to time.
  • Rainfall, Soil Moisture and Stream flows: Rainfalls are likely to be normal or above normal in the west and south of the South Island, normal or below normal in the north and east of the North Island, and near normal elsewhere. Stream flows are expected to be normal or below normal in the east of both Islands, and soil moisture also normal or below normal in the east of the South Island. Elsewhere, normal stream flows and soil moisture are expected.

Regional predictions for the next three months:

  • Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty: Above average temperatures are likely during July to September. Normal or below normal rainfall is expected, with near normal stream flows and soil moisture.
  • Central North Island, Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu and Wellington: For July to September, average or above average temperatures are expected. Normal seasonal rainfall, soil moisture levels, and streamflows are likely.
  • Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa: Temperatures are forecast to be above average during the July to September period. Normal or below normal rainfall and stream flows are expected, with near normal soil moisture levels.
  • Nelson, Marlborough, Buller: Above average July to September temperatures are expected, with normal rainfall. Normal soil moisture levels and stream flows are predicted for this region.
  • West Coast, Alps and Foothills, Inland Otago, Southland: Average seasonal temperatures are forecast. Normal or above normal rainfall is expected, with soil moisture levels and river flows near normal.
  • Coastal Canterbury, East Otago: Near average seasonal temperatures are expected with normal rainfall. Soil moisture levels and stream flows are expected to be normal or below normal.

Thanks to NIWA

Hardship Indicators Fall

Ministry of Social Development analysis shows that fewer NZers are below the "Social Report" low-income thresholds and that accommodation costs are falling as a proportion of income. Highlights from the incomes analysis include:

  • the proportion of NZers living in families with incomes less than 60 percent of the median income, adjusted for family size, housing costs and inflation since 1998, has fallen from 22 percent in 2001 to 19 percent in 2004;
  • the proportion of dependent children below this threshold has fallen more substantially from 27 percent in 2001 to 21 percent in 2004;
  • between 2001 and 2004, the proportion of dependent children in sole-parent families below the 60 percent line fell from 61 percent to 43 percent;
  • the proportion of low-income NZ households spending more than 30 percent of income on housing costs has also fallen, from 42 percent in 2001 to 35 percent in 2004;
  • the proportion of children living in households with these high housing costs has also fallen, from 35 percent in 2001 to 29 percent in 2004;
  • the indicator has also fallen sharply for households with at least one Maori adult (31 percent to 21 percent) and households with at least one Pacific adult (41 percent to 23 percent);
  • the income inequality indicator increased slightly between 2001 and 2004, in line with a longer-term trend which began in the 1980s; and
  • based on a different set of indicators as used by the OECD for international comparisons, NZ figures for relative income poverty and inequality showed no significant change for the period 2001 to 2004.

Abortion Statistics: 2004

The general abortion rate (abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years) dropped from 21.0 in 2003 to 20.5 per 1,000 in 2004. The number of abortions performed in NZ has dropped for the first time since 1998. A total of 18,210 induced abortions were performed in NZ in the December 2004 year, 300 (1.6 percent) fewer than in 2003 (18,510). This drop follows increases of 6.5 percent in 2003 and 5.9 percent in 2002.

Women aged 20-24 years had more abortions than other age groups, accounting for around three out of ten abortions in 2004. Women aged 20-24 years also had the highest abortion rate of any age group (39 abortions per 1,000 women). Women aged 25-29 years had the next highest rate (27 per 1,000), followed by teenagers aged 15-19 years (26 per 1,000). Over the last decade, abortion rates have increased for all age groups. The median age of women having an abortion has remained stable over the last decade, at around 25 years.

Thanks to Statistics NZ

More Teenagers Say "NO" To Smoking

A recent Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) NZ national survey shows that 17.6 percent of 14 to 16-year-old NZ teenagers said they were smokers in 2004, down from 28.6 percent in 1999. Teenagers who are never-smokers increased from 31.6 percent in 1999 to 47 percent in 2004. And 21.2 percent of girls (24.9 in 2003) and 13.8 percent of boys (16.4 in 2003) smoked on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

The 2004 survey marks the first time a decline in daily smoking among Maori females has been observed, although the gap between the smoking behaviours of Maori and Pacific Island students and NZ European students is increasing. For example, only 18 percent (15 percent in 2003) of Maori girls said that they were never-smokers, whilst 48.2 percent (41.4 percent in 2003) of NZ European girls were never-smokers.

Another significant find is that parents play a vital part in their children not taking up smoking. The rate of never smoking amongst Year 10 students was greater amongst students with both parents being non-smokers (57.4 percent) than in students with both parents being smokers (23.7 percent). The smoking prevalence of students coming from homes where both parents were smokers was 24.8 percent. This amount is nearly halved to 12.8 percent where only one parent smoked, and only 4.6 percent of students who smoked came from homes where neither parent smoked.

Study Finds Kiwis Smoke Less after TXT

Quit rates at six weeks of young smokers receiving active text support on STOMP, or the Stop Smoking with Mobile Phones Trial, were double those in a control group, the international journal Tobacco Control reported. The trial was developed and run by the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) at The University of Auckland, to target young smokers who have the highest smoking rates but are least likely to enrol in existing programmes.

A total of 1,705 young smokers from around NZ (who all wanted to quit) enrolled in STOMP. Half of them were in an "active" group and received intensive text intervention leading up to an agreed quit date and one month of free texting. This included regular personalised text messages that encouraged them to give up smoking or provided distraction at the key moment when tempted to light up.

The Ministry of Health has said it will support the project and has committed to working with the CTRU and providers of mobile phone services on ways to make the development more widely available to young people.

Indigenous Health Gap Wider in NZ

The health gap between Maori and European NZers is wider than that between American Indians and the US majority white population in the US. That's according to a researcher from The University of Auckland (whose research has appeared as a recent article in the American Journal of Public Health).

The researcher compared a range of health indicators in the two countries, including life expectancy and infant mortality, immunisation, cervical cancer and breast cancer screening, smoking, obesity and diabetes, some cardiac procedures and kidney transplants. In the case of nearly all of these indicators the health status of Maori people was found to be lower than that of American Indians, when compared with the majority European populations. For example:

  • Maori males have a life expectancy 8.9 years less than that of non-Maori males, compared with American Indian males whose life expectancy was 7.4 years less than white males; and
  • Maori people showed the highest prevalence of smoking with 48.6 percent of adults - twice that of the majority population (in the US 33 percent of adult Native Americans were smokers - 36 percent higher than the white population there).

One aspect cited to explain this difference is the two countries differ in their approaches to reducing the disparities in the health status of indigenous peoples. In recent years, the US has had considerable success in eliminating these differences in some areas (especially childhood immunisation programmes where there is no difference in the coverage between American Indians and the white majority).

Another difference is that in the US they have a system of delivering health services directly to the indigenous population. It is controlled by American Indians and community based, so it has outreach directly into American Indian communities. Here in NZ, the researcher says, while we have around 200 Maori health providers, many of which are in rural areas, the majority of Maori people still attend non-Maori health providers.

Antenatal HIV Screening to Become Routine Offering

NZ will progressively move to a policy of routinely offering antenatal HIV screening as part of antenatal care. This approach will begin in the Waikato District Health Board (DHB) region, as well as one of the Auckland DHBs. Experience in these areas will help shape the wider national roll-out over a period of three years.

At the moment pregnant women are routinely offered blood tests for: blood grouping for Rhesus disease, anaemia, hepatitis, rubella immunity, gestational diabetes and syphilis. The current antenatal HIV screening policy is based on identification of high-risk women (through a series of screening questions) early in pregnancy, and referral of women identified as high risk - or where there is uncertainty - for HIV testing. This policy has been in place since 1997.

Exit Breath Survey 2005

Results from the first NZ survey of young drinkers leaving on-licensed premises were released recently. The survey took breath alcohol readings and interviewed 350 people under 25 as they left 111 bars, pubs and nightclubs in the Auckland region.

Nearly 75 percent of the breath test readings of survey participants aged 18 or 19 years and nearly half (42 percent) of those aged 20-24 years were over their respective legal limit for driving (150mcg/l for those under 20 years and 400mcg/l for those 20 years and over).

The survey also reported self and field worker assessments of intoxication. Over 40 percent of survey participants reported that they were moderately intoxicated and approximately eight percent reported that they were extremely intoxicated. About 34 percent of participants were rated by interviewers to be moderately intoxicated; about eight percent of participants were rated as extremely intoxicated.

The average number of drinks that participants reported consuming over the night was around nine standard drinks. Thirty-seven percent of participants reported that they would usually drink more alcohol than they had consumed at the time they were surveyed. Almost half of the participants intended to go to another bar.

The survey also found that patrons tested between 1 and 4am had significantly higher breath alcohol levels than those tested between 9pm and midnight.

Workplace Death Numbers Drop

The Department of Labour says the number of workplace deaths has dropped significantly in the past 12 months. Its latest figures show 46 fatalities in the year to the end of June, down from 61 in the same period a year earlier and 73 in the previous 12 months. Some industries such as construction and forestry have improved, but death rates are still high in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Thanks to "NewsRoom"

Paid Parental Leave Payments Increase

Maximum paid parental leave payments went up from 1 July 2005 ($346.63 to $357.30 a week). Eighty-seven percent of people on paid parental leave currently receive the maximum rate. The new rate applies both to new applicants and those already receiving parental leave payments. People already receiving payments will be advised of the increase by the Inland Revenue Department through their regular payments letter.

Under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act, the maximum rate is adjusted each year to reflect any increase in average weekly earnings as determined by the Quarterly Employment Survey. Current information shows that:

  • the majority of employees are taking the full 13 weeks paid leave entitlement;
  • about 17,000 people accessed the scheme last year; and
  • about 4,400 people are receiving parental leave payments at any one time.

More information about paid parental leave can be found at www.ers.dol.govt.nz or call the Department of Labour's Infoline on 0800 800 863 / 0800 20 90 20

Work-Focused Service Trialled

Trials of a new work-focused service for beneficiaries began in 12 locations across the country in June, as part of the reform of the welfare system. The sites are in Whangarei, Auckland, Otara, Hamilton, Tokoroa, Gisborne, Waitara, Masterton, Naenae, Nelson, Riccarton, and Dunedin South.

The new service, which extends employment services to beneficiaries, regardless of benefit type, will underpin the Single Core benefit to be introduced in 2007/08. From September 2005, the sites will also offer extra services to support people with ill health or disability to take up work. This will include dedicated employment support staff, access to some targeted health services and work assessments to identify employment possibilities.

Feedback Sought

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is currently developing the detailed policy around the Single Core Benefit. It is seeking feedback on proposals relating to:

  • the eligibility rules;
  • what to do with 16- and 17-year olds;
  • in what circumstances people would be required to take up work; and
  • how Work and Income will need to change its services to support people into work.

An information pack and feedback form are available at www.workandincome.govt.nz, by calling 0800 559 009 or from your nearest Work and Income Office. Feedback will be contained in a report to government and a summary will be published online at www.workandincome.govt.nz

In October MSD will seek further feedback on other topics such as ill health or disability and people needing extra help because of hardship.

More Funding for New ECE Centres

Community groups will be able to apply for funding to create new early childhood education (ECE) centres across the country through a second round of the Discretionary Grant Scheme. Each year the Discretionary Grants Scheme provides annual capital assistance to community based services to establish new centres and to address health or safety concerns in existing services.

Information and application forms for the second Discretionary Grant Scheme round will be sent out to services and made available on the Ministry of Education's website from 25 July 2005. Applications will close on Friday 14 October and it is expected that decisions will be announced in early February 2006. Services will be able to apply for 2006 funding in February 2006.

Resources for People with Disabilities

Additional funding of up to $1.7 million (excl GST) has been made available to ensure people receive equipment over the next few months. The Ministry of Health spends more than $70 million on aids and equipment each year to meet the needs of people with disabilities. What this $1.7 million injection means in real terms is that 374 people will receive hearing aids, 35 will get wheelchairs or mobility equipment, and 101 will have modifications made to their homes.

Promoting Blind and Vision-Impaired Entrepreneurs

Ten blind and vision-impaired students met at the corporate offices of Ernst & Young in Auckland on 1 July, taking first steps towards a business career in innovation and entrepreneurship. These students, participating in a course provided by Unitec, make up a team that is competing for the 2005 SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) World Cup, with a project called "Blindness - Dare to be Entrepreneurial". This team consists of three students studying towards a Master of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship degree, one accountant student, one student studying towards a Certificate in Tourism and Leisure, and one student studying Management.

The Office for Disability Issues is helping to support the Unitec course by paying the costs of producing the course material in Braille. SIFE, a global non-profit setup in 1975 by Wal-Mart stores, encourages senior university students to "give back" by developing out reach projects that teach the principles of free enterprise and create economic opportunities for members of their communities. This particular initiative is designed to help blind and vision-impaired people increase their ability to participate in business, and help overcome barriers to employment (around the world, blind and vision-impaired people typically have low employment rates).

The effectiveness of team projects is judged nationally by leading business executives, who will select the team to represent NZ at the international competition. It is hoped these students will be taken seriously by all employers and prepare them to pursue their own enterprises.

National Family and Household Projections: Update

The following highlights are based on series 5B, which assumes medium fertility, medium mortality, and long-term annual net migration of 10,000:

  • the number of families is projected to reach 1.30 million by 2021, an increase of 250,000 (24 percent) from an estimated 1.05 million families at 30 June 2001;
  • most of the growth in families will be in couples without children families, which will overtake two-parent families to become the most common family type by 2006;
  • the number of households is projected to reach 1.84 million by 2021, an increase of 400,000 (28 percent) from an estimated 1.44 million households at 30 June 2001;
  • one-person households are projected to increase by 46 percent, from 333,000 in 2001 to 488,000 in 2021;
  • the average size of households will decrease to 2.4 people by 2021, from 2.6 people in 2001; and
  • the number of families and households will grow faster than the population, which is projected to increase by 18 percent between 2001 and 2021.

New Pacific Youth Development Strategy

The new Pacific Youth Development Strategy has been developed using a talanoa process involving Pacific youth, Pacific community leaders and government agencies. It aims to deliver positive life-change and affirmation for all Pacific youth in Auckland. The strategy aims to prepare Pacific youth, through education and employment, to enjoy the opportunities presented by the country's economic and social development.

The Pacific Youth Development Strategy has three key focus areas:

  • Parents - First Role Models. Focus on the function and importance of parents as role models and key influences in the development of Pacific young people.
  • Education - Empowering Pacific Youth. Focus on the importance of an education system which responds in an effective way to meet the needs of young Pacific people and providing opportunities to achieve.
  • Church - Enhancing Community and Family. Focus on the church and its role in enhancing the wellbeing of Pacific young people and their families. Recognising that while there can be a disconnection between young people and the church, spirituality plays a significant role in the lives of Pacific young people.

The next phase of the strategy will see working groups identify and implement specific projects which will support these key areas.

Thanks to Statistics NZ

World Export /Import Listing

The WTO's 2005 trade report found Chinese exports climbed 35 percent last calendar year while its imports rose 36 percent. China is now ranked the third largest exporter in the world, accounting for 6.5 percent of all exports, worth $US593 billion. It now accounts for 5.9 percent of global imports, worth $US561 billion. Chinese exports have grown 22 percent, 35 percent and 35 percent, respectively, over the past three years. Chinese imports have grown 21 percent, 40 percent, and 36 percent, respectively, during the past three years.

Germany remains the world's biggest exporter, accounting for 10 percent of global exports worth $US914.8 billion. The US is still the world's biggest importer, taking 16.1 percent of global imports, worth $US1,526 billion.

Australia had been the world's 17th largest merchandise exporter, but the figures now show Australia is not in the top 20. On the imports side, Australia has dropped two spots to the world's 19th largest importer. Imports climbed 21 percent in 2004 to $US107.8 billion.

The WTO found the Asian region led the world in terms of merchandise export growth, with a real growth rate of 14.5 percent. China, South Korea and Singapore recorded growth rates of more than 20 percent, while Japan's export levels were up 11 percent. Import growth across Asia was up 15 percent, faster growth than that recorded in 2003.

South and Central America, and Russia, all recorded very strong import growth rates, above 16 percent. While North American imports grew 10 percent, exports were up less than eight percent. Europe trailed the rest of the world, with import and exports up around six percent.

The WTO found one of the growth areas in world trade is pharmaceuticals. Trade in pharmaceuticals is now growing much faster than total world trade. In 2003, pharmaceutical trade grew 20.3 percent. That followed a 26.3 percent expansion in 2002 and 22.4 percent in 2001. However, trade in drugs is limited to a handful of major nations. North America, Western Europe and Japan account for about 90 percent of world exports and more than 80 percent of world imports of pharmaceuticals, the report found.

Immigration Investor Category Changes Announced

Announced recently were changes to the Investor Category. The category, which allows people to gain residence on the condition they invest in NZ, has been operating in various forms since 1978. The main points of the new policy are:

  • the minimum amount to be invested has increased from $1 million to $2 million;
  • funds will be transferred to a NZ bank account in the applicant's name for verification;
  • funds will then be transferred to the government to invest in infrastructure projects for five years;
  • at the end of this period, applicants will receive their money back plus interest based on the rate of inflation;
  • half of the funds can be withdrawn after two years and transferred to another government-approved investment; and
  • applicants must be 54 years or younger, with at least five years' business experience, and willing to make NZ their main home by the end of the investment period.

Health, character and English language requirements have not changed. Under the old policy, applicants were granted residence if they could reach a pass mark by accumulating points for business experience, the amount of funds brought into NZ and their age. Applicants falling short on the business experience and age criteria could compensate by bringing in more funds.

NZ "Super Growth" Companies Increase

The number of "super growth" companies in NZ has more than doubled, putting the country mid-table internationally, a new survey shows. The survey of more than 6,000 business owners by business adviser Grant Thornton shows the number of Kiwi super growth companies jumped to 13 percent from 6 percent last year. The improvement ranked the country joint tenth out of 24, alongside Poland, Japan and Sweden.

Super growth companies are defined as those returning above average growth against indicators of absolute and percentage growth in turnover and employee numbers. The US topped the list with 48 percent of companies classified as super growth, compared with 22 percent last year. Last year's chart topper, Sweden, fell to tenth place with 13 percent, compared with 24 percent last year. Bottom of the table were Russia and Turkey.

Auckland and Wellington; More Expensive

Mercer Human Resource Consulting's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2005 showed Auckland was now ranked 69th, up from 80th last year and 115th the year before. This year, Wellington was ranked 76th, from 86th last year and 117th in 2003. The survey covers 144 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. The survey ranks cities against New York, which is given a base measure of 100 points. Auckland scored 79.6 and Wellington 77.5, while Tokyo, again the most expensive city, scored 134.7. Following Tokyo in the rankings were, Osaka, London, and Moscow. Sydney, whose global ranking was 20, remained the most expensive city in Australia.

Quake Monitoring Network Funding

Funding to the GeoNet earthquake and volcano monitoring system has been increased from $5 million to $8 million a year. In addition to extending the network, the extra funding will allow the development of information products that will strengthen emergency management, as well as the research needed to better understand and manage geological risks. GeoNet is run by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (IGNS) and is funded through the Earthquake Commission.

International Centre for Eco-restoration

An international centre for Biodiversity and Eco-restoration is to be built at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, in Wellington. Wellington's Victoria University has been granted $872,000 through the tertiary education sector's Innovation and Development Fund for its "Developing Eco-restoration Capability" project. This project is about developing professional management and restoration of indigenous ecosystems, using research as a basis. The grant will cover the cost of building the centre as well as the salaries of teaching staff. Four undergraduate scholarships, worth $20,000 each, will be established and the centre will host an international conference on ecosystem restoration.

Great Barrier Marine Reserve

A proposal to create a marine reserve off Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf has been approved, but the reserve will be smaller than originally suggested. Approval has been given for a reserve covering 49,500 hectares on the eastern side of Great Barrier Island, some 508 hectares less than what DoC originally asked for.

Funding Assistance: Solar Water Heating

A funding increase for a finance assistance scheme means more people will be able to get help to buy solar water heating units. Under the scheme, people can get interest free loans to buy and install solar water heating. Funding for 2005/06 will increase to $400,000, compared with $200,000 when the full scheme started in 2003/04.

Under the scheme, money can be borrowed on an interest-free basis to pay for the purchase and installation of a system. The goal is to see 10,000 residential systems installed by about 2008. Already, numbers have gone from 1,055 solar systems in 2002 to 2,343 systems being installed last year. This year, it's forecasted that around 3,500 solar systems will be installed in homes.

Study into Centre for Local and Regional Development

The Economic Development Association of NZ (EDANZ) has been awarded $62,000 to investigate the potential benefits of a Centre for Regional and Local Economic Development. The study will identify the activities a centre for regional and local economic development could undertake, explore the need for the centre, provide options for how a centre could be funded, and suggest where a centre could be located. The grant is from the Ministry of Economic Development's Regional Initiatives Fund (RIF). EDANZ is a national body promoting economic development, business growth and export opportunities in NZ.

Competition to Design State Housing

The government is launching a competition for ideas on the future design of state housing in NZ. Architects, designers and students will be invited to present plans on how to develop a government-owned site in the suburb of Sandringham. Contestants must demonstrate urban design solutions and higher density housing in their plans. A panel of local and international judges will announce the overall winner on 18 August, with prizes totalling $30,000.

Thanks to NewsRoom

Scholarships Expanded to Include Sports Officials

The Prime Minister's Scholarship programme has been expanded to include NZ's top referees, umpires and judges. Under the scholarships, which until now have been reserved for athletes and coaches, elite and potentially elite officials will be eligible to apply for scholarships of up to $10,000 a year. The scholarships could be used to cover the costs of gaining or maintaining international officiating accreditation, which may include officiating at international events and other professional development initiatives, such as mentoring programmes. The expansion will cost $1 million over the next four years, and will be available from August 2005. Applications should be made through national sport organisations.

World Bank in Indigenous People's Rethink

The World Bank has signalled a shift in the way it deals with the indigenous communities of developing countries. Future development programmes that affect indigenous people will now only be financed after "informed consultation". Campaigners have argued that the bank's polices have previously worked to the disadvantage of indigenous groups. But the bank said it was now seeking "direct engagement" with the world's aboriginal communities. The bank also called for closer agreements between governments and indigenous communities on the commercial use of natural resources, such as minerals, forests, water, and hunting or fishing grounds.

The World Bank describes indigenous communities as distinct populations, whose culture, identity and natural resources are inextricably linked with the land upon which they live. It is estimated that there are some 250 million indigenous peoples living in more than 70 countries across the world.

Global Arms Spending Exceeds $US1 trillion

For the first time since the Cold War, global military spending exceeded $US1 trillion in 2004, nearly half of it by the US. As military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror continue, the world spent $US1.035 trillion on defence during the year, corresponding to 2.6 percent of global gross domestic product, says the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. However, the figures may be on the low end, says the institute, as countries are increasingly outsourcing services related to armed conflict, like military training and providing logistics in combat zones, without classifying them as military expenses. The US accounted for 47 percent of all military expenditure, while Britain and France each made up five percent of the total. In all, 15 countries accounted for 82 percent of the world's total military spending.

The Best Movie Quotes of All Time

Clark Gable's line to Vivien Leigh, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn", in 1939's "Gone With the Wind" led the American Film Institute's list of best quotes from US movies. Marlon Brando had the No. 2 and 3 quotes - "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse," from "The Godfather" and his "I coulda been a contender" speech from "On the Waterfront." Judy Garland's Dorothy Gale came in fourth with "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," from "The Wizard of Oz." At No. 5 was "Here's looking at you, kid," spoken by Rick (Humphrey Bogart) to Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) in "Casablanca."

Rounding out the top 10:

6. "Go ahead, make my day," Clint Eastwood, "Sudden Impact."

7. "All right, Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up," Gloria Swanson, "Sunset Boulevard."

8. "May the Force be with you," Harrison Ford, "Star Wars."

9. "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night," Bette Davis, "All About Eve."

10. "You talking to me"?, Robert De Niro, "Taxi Driver."

"Casablanca" led the list with six quotes, including Bogart's "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" (No. 20) and "We'll always have Paris" (No. 43), and Bergman's "Play it, Sam. Play `As Time Goes By'" (No. 28).

Other highlights include Sidney Poitier's "They call me Mister Tibbs!" (No. 16), "In the Heat of the Night"; Roy Scheider's "You're gonna need a bigger boat" (No. 35), "Jaws"; Arnold Schwarzenegger's "I'll be back" (No. 37), "The Terminator"; Renee Zellweger's "You had me at `hello'" (No. 52), "Jerry Maguire"; and Peter Sellers' "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" (No. 64), "Dr. Strangelove".

The oldest line was Al Jolson's "Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet" (No. 71) from 1927's "The Jazz Singer." The newest was Andy Serkis' "My precious" (No. 85) from 2002's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."

Rowdy comedy was represented (John Belushi's "Toga! Toga!", No. 82, from "National Lampoon's Animal House"), along with horror (Jack Nicholson's "Here's Johnny!", No. 68, from "The Shining"). So was musical comedy (Barbra Streisand's "Hello, gorgeous," No. 81, from "Funny Girl"), and epic romance (Leonardo DiCaprio's "I'm king of the world!", No. 100, from "Titanic").

Single words made the list, Orson Welles' "Rosebud" (No. 17) from "Citizen Kane" and Walter Brooke's "Plastics" (No. 42) from "The Graduate." Super-spy James Bond scored with lines that began with original 007 Sean Connery: "Bond. James Bond" (No. 22) from "Dr. No" and "A martini. Shaken, not stirred" (No. 90) from "Goldfinger."

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