Update

Update

Number and Rate of Marriages

Latest Statistics NZ figures show that marriages registered in NZ in the year ended 31 December 2003 totalled 21,420. This is 3.5 percent more than in the December 2002 year (20,690) and the highest number since 1991 (21,840). However, the latest figure is still down 21 percent on the peak of 27,200 recorded in 1971.

The general marriage rate (number of marriages per 1,000 not-married population aged 16 years and over) remained stable at 14.7 per 1,000 during 2001-2003. The latest rate is less than a third of the peak level of 45.5 per 1,000 recorded in 1971. Factors contributing to the low marriage rate include the growth of unmarried couples living together, the trend towards delayed marriage, and an increasing proportion of NZers remaining single.

More than one in three marriages now involve the remarriage of one or both partners. By comparison, one in six marriages in 1971 involved the remarriage of one or both partners.

The trend towards later marriage is continuing. Legal marriages among teenagers have become less common. While 8,700 teenage girls married in 1971, three decades later, in 2003, the figure had dropped to just 600. Teenage girls made up 32 percent of all females who married in 1971, but just 3 percent in 2003.

The median age at first marriage in 2003 was 29.5 years for men and 27.7 years for women. NZers marrying for the first time in 2003 were, on average, about 6.7 years older than their counterparts in 1971, when early marriage was the norm. Women still tend to marry men older than themselves; however, the gap between their median ages at first marriage has narrowed, from 2.7 years in the mid-1960s to 1.8 years in 2003.

World Business Competitiveness: How NZ Rates

NZ now ranks18th on the just-released world competitiveness scoreboard (we've dropped two places). The 2004 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranks 60 countries on their ability to "create and maintain an environment that sustains the competitiveness of enterprises".

NZ retained its 13th place 2003 ranking amongst smaller countries with populations of less than 20 million, but slipped behind Taiwan and Malaysia in both the Asia-Pacific region and the worldwide ranking. NZ was 4th on the Asia-Pacific scoreboard last year. We now rank 6th out of 15 regions listed.

On the upside, NZ ranks highly on exports of commercial services, gender income ratio, per capita arable area, education spending, start-up time for new business, females in management positions and in parliament, and the level of our government surplus/deficit. But our stock market index, indirect taxation, current account balance, exports, direct inward investment flows and R& D spend are all well down the international competitiveness scorecard.

Regional Economic Activity - March Quarter

According to Statistics NZ, 12 regions recorded a rise in economic activity in the first three months of the year. Taranaki outstripped the rest of the country for the first time since 2000, rising 2.8 percent in the March quarter. Otago grew 2.0 percent, closely followed by Auckland with a 1.9 percent rise in economic activity. Flood damaged Manawatu-Wanganui was the only region to record a decline in economic activity in March, dropping 0.4 percent in the quarter.

On a nation-wide basis, economic activity rose 1.2 percent in the March quarter. Growth was evenly shared between the urban and rural regions, both recording a 1.2 percent gain in activity. The top of North Island, Otago and the West Coast were the fastest growing regions.

Year-on-year economic growth (3.9 percent nation-wide) accelerated in every region except Gisborne and Manawatu-Wanganui. Otago was the fastest growing regional economy, rising 5.3 percent in the 12 months to March 2004. Despite a surge in the March quarter, Taranaki languished at the bottom of the annual growth rankings, for the third consecutive quarter.

The three fastest growing regional economies in the year to March all hail from the South Island. Economic growth in Nelson-Marlborough has continuously eclipsed the national average for the past five years.

Dropping GP Numbers

A NZ Medical Association report into the General Practitioner workforce, "An Analysis of the NZ General Practitioner Workforce", shows a decline in GP numbers. The report shows the number of active GPs has decreased by 6.5 percent from 1997 to 2002 (and 8 percent over last two of those years). Using the narrower definition "GPs identifying general practice as their main type of work", the decrease is 13.4 percent from 1998 to 2002. The report also shows:

  • compared with Australia, we have fewer GPs per 100,000 population;
  • the ageing population in NZ will require lower patient ratios;
  • most areas have experienced a decrease in GP numbers;
  • rural areas continue to experience shortages;
  • the GP workforce is ageing;
  • the proportion of women GPs is increasing (women GPs, statistically, are more likely to work part-time);
  • there are shortages of Maori and Pacific GPs;
  • the GP workforce is reliant on overseas-trained doctors;
  • GPs are experiencing negative work conditions; and
  • few new medical graduates are choosing general practice as a career option.

The report is available from the NZMA website at http://www.nzma.org.nz/news/index.html (otherwise, contact the NZMA National Office on (04) 472 4741)

Only Four Drinks? - I Don't Think So

Many NZ drinkers are actually consuming much more alcohol than they realise according to new research released by the Alcohol Advisory Council of NZ (ALAC). The study showed that NZers who reported drinking, say, four drinks on their last occasion are actually drinking more like six and a half "standard" drinks. The findings come from a survey of 120 NZers who regularly consume more than recommended levels. They were asked to actually show ALAC how much they drink, rather than just telling ALAC what they drank. ALAC wanted to measure how much alcohol they consider to be "one glass" and compare it with the official definition of a standard drink (10 grams of pure alcohol).

The study found that:

  • these drinkers, who reported consuming six drinks on their last occasion, had more like 10.1 standard drinks;
  • the beer drinkers consume on average one and a quarter times more alcohol than they think they do;
  • the wine drinkers consume on average twice as much alcohol than they think they do;
  • the spirit drinkers consume on average twice as much alcohol than they think they do; and
  • overall, the group surveyed were actually consuming 1.6 times more alcohol on average than they thought they were.

Based on this research, the 350,000 NZers ALAC identified in March who binge on seven or more drinks at a time are actually consuming close to 12 standard drinks (see March 2004 "Rural Bulletin"). This is double the amount of alcohol ALAC recommends for men in one drinking occasion and triple that recommended for women.

NZ Asthma Rate Triple World Average

NZers suffer asthma at three times the global rate, according to the first international assessment of the disease. It's reckoned that 300 million people, about 5 percent of the global population, suffer asthma. The rate among NZers is 15 percent. The prevalence of the disease is rising - particularly where populations are urbanising and adopting Western lifestyles - but the basic reasons remain unclear.

A total of 225,723 people died from the disease worldwide in 2001. Asthma is 300 times more common than coronary heart disease. The global economic costs of asthma exceed those of TB and HIV/AIDS combined. The report predicts that by 2025, some 400 million to 450 million people will have asthma, an increase of up to 50 percent.

The research report says that when people from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands emigrate to Australia and NZ there is a marked increase in asthma prevalence within one generation. Many scientists are investigating the "hygiene hypothesis" - that increasingly sanitised living conditions and a decreasing exposure to bugs early in life primes the immune system to overreact later, producing allergic diseases. Most asthma is triggered by allergies. However, although this theory explains part of the rise in asthma, it's not thought to be the whole answer.

Despite NZ's high asthma prevalence, the rate of people dying from the disease is within the range of many Western countries at 4.6 per 100,000 asthmatics. At the Western extremes, Canada's rate is 1.6 and Denmark's 9.3. The world's worst rate is in China, at 36.7.

Breast Cancer Treatment Audit

An audit of breast cancer treatment in NZ and Australia has found that more than one in seven women who have only part of a breast removed will need a second operation. The four-year study of 20,000 women found that 15 percent of those who had breast conservation surgery later had to have more tissue taken to treat the cancer. About half f these women ended up having the breast removed completely. Thanks to "NewsRoom"

Fighting HIV/AIDS in the Pacific

NZ is to contribute a further $3 million to fight HIV/AIDS as the disease continues to pose a significant threat to Pacific Island countries. NZAID, the NZ Government's aid agency, is currently involved in HIV/AIDS and reproductive health programmes in the Pacific. Current NZAID funding for these programmes is over $6 million.

The extra $3 million will cover a one-off grant of $1 million to the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), $1 million to the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and $1 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to address reproductive health issues, including HIV/AIDS.

Known HIV infection rates are highest and accelerating in Papua New Guinea, where there are at least 7,000 reported cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates the figure is closer to 20,000. Although the rates are low in other Pacific Island countries, there are indications of sharp increases in countries like Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands reflecting a potential spread in the region.

Pharmac Funds Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Government drug-funding agency Pharmac has agreed to subsidise naltrexone (ReVia) from 1 June. Naltrexone works by stopping people getting the "high" they normally expect from drinking alcohol. It has fewer side effects than the currently-listed treatment disulfiram, has been shown to get better results, and can help people better manage a reduction in their drinking.

About 800 people will be eligible to take naltrexone as part of their anti-alcohol addiction programme in the first full year, and that this number will rise over the next two years. Approval to take naltrexone would initially be for a three-month period, but this could be extended for a further three months if people were benefiting and still needed it.

Drinking Trends from Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice figures show more teenagers being prosecuted for drink driving offences since the legal drinking age was reduced to 18 in 1999. The figures cover the period from 1999 to 2002. They show prosecution levels jumped for 18 and 19 year old drivers, who were the people who legally benefited from the law change. These figures rose each year since the drinking age was reduced, and in 2002, were the highest for nine years. The report also says the number of teenagers drinking did not go up overall, but those who do drink, consume more alcohol, more often.

The report, "Young People And Alcohol: Some Statistics On Possible Effects Of Lowering The Drinking Age", can be downloaded from: www.justice.govt.nz/pubs/reports/2002/young-people-alcohol-drinking-age/index.html

Change to School Terms

State schools' terms and holidays will change from 2006. From then, the school year will begin in February, either immediately after Waitangi Day (6 February) or as close to that date as possible. Term 3 for secondary and composite (Year 1-13) schools will include a week's holiday to enable secondary schools to take part in national winter sports tournaments.

These changes mean that secondary schools will finish the year at a later time, and at about the same time as primary schools. The NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA) will ensure the external National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) exams can start a week later to accommodate the change.

Task Force to Focus on Asia Relations

A Ministerial Task Force has been established to build on recent breakthroughs in economic links with Asia (for example, free trade negotiations with China in early 2005; talks on a closer Economic Partnership with Thailand, and ASEAN Economic Ministers calling for a free trade agreement with NZ and Australia). The Task Force will coordinate work being done across government on relations with Asia, and develop a suitable policy framework that takes the private sector's interests into account. It will also follow up the Seriously Asia initiative, which was organised by the Asia 2000 Foundation and aims to identify priority goals and practical actions to energise NZ's links with Asia. The Task Force will bring together the principal Ministers involved in Asian relationships - Foreign Affairs and Trade, Trade Negotiations, Finance, Economic Development, Immigration, Education, Defence, Tourism, Research Science and Technology. Other Ministers will participate as required.

NCEA Profiles to be Released

Secondary schools can now find out how their students performed in national qualifications last year compared with other schools. The Qualifications Authority has released the statistics onto its website. For the first time, it has also released school profiles showing student achievement within individual schools, as well as comparing this with national patterns. Thanks to "NewsRoom"

New Rural Computing Education Scheme

A new rural education scheme to help farmers come to grips with computers and broadband technology is starting next month. The Farm Smart pilot programme will start in Waikato and Southland, and will become available in other regions from July. It is modelled on the Farm Safe scheme which already provides courses on farm safety and health in rural communities.

Thanks to "NewsRoom"

Two New Island Sanctuaries

A recently announced $7 million project will create two of the largest island sanctuaries for threatened native wildlife around mainland NZ. The project is an 8-year restoration project to transform Secretary Island in Doubtful Sound and Resolution Island in Dusky Sound into safe havens for a range of species.

At 20,860 ha, Resolution Island is up to 10 times larger than any other island sanctuary around our immediate coastline. Secretary Island is 8140 ha. The islands are already populated by species like the Fiordland-crested penguin, NZ falcon, western weka, kaka and kea, but they have the potential to become homes for the threatened kakapo, mohua (yellowhead), rock wren and robin as well.

The restoration of Secretary and Resolution would involve two of the biggest pest control programmes the Department of Conservation had ever attempted. Resolution Island is populated by mice, deer and stoats, and there is an historical record of rats. Secretary Island is also populated by stoats and deer. Pest control on both islands will either seek to eradicate these pest species completely or control them to very low numbers where they do not impact on native species. The restoration work is going to start with Secretary first, as the smaller of the two islands. Lessons learned on Secretary will then be applied to Resolution Island.

Kaikoura Island Purchased

Kaikoura Island (564 hectares) in the Outer Hauraki Gulf is to be protected, restored and used as an area for environmental education of NZ youth. A joint venture deal has been struck to buy Kaikoura for $10.5 million by combining resources from the Government's Nature Heritage Fund, ASB Trusts, the Auckland Regional Council, and Auckland's territorial authorities. The island will be protected as public land under the Reserves Act, although it is to be managed by a Trust representative of organisations which contributed to its purchase. The Trust will be appointed in the next few months.

More Carbon Credits for Climate-Friendly Projects

This year sees more carbon credits available to support projects that will reduce NZ's greenhouse gas emissions. Budget 2004 will make another six million credits available through a tender process later this year. Credits, or emission units, are internationally tradeable and add to the financial value of a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They are available for projects that are additional to business-as-usual, which means they help bring forward projects that would not otherwise be economic.

New Design: Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

A new design has been commissioned for the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. The Tomb will be located in front of the National War Memorial in Wellington. The new design is by NZ artist and sculptor Kingsley Baird. The official dedication of the Tomb is scheduled for Armistice Day, 11 November 2004. Images of the design and site plan are online at www.unknownwarrior.govt.nz.

NZers' Spending on Overseas Trips

NZers away on overseas trips of less than one year spent $2.7 billion in the year ended 30 June 2003, according to results of the Survey of Returned Travellers released by Statistics NZ. About 80 percent of expenditure was for personal travel and 20 percent was for business-related travel. Forty percent of all expenditure by NZ travellers occurred in Australia. The next highest level of spending was recorded in UK, at 12 percent, followed by the US, at 9 percent.

Average expenditure was $2,379 per trip for all travellers, the same level as for personal travellers and close to the average expenditure recorded for business travellers. Payment using credit cards accounted for over 40 percent of all overseas spending by NZ travellers for the year, whereas payment using travellers cheques accounted for only 3 percent.

The survey results also showed there were four times as many NZers going overseas for personal reasons as there were for business-related travel. A breakdown of expenditure shows that business travellers spent twice as much per day as personal travellers. However, personal travellers spent twice as long abroad as did business travellers, on average. These two results tended to balance each other, with both types of travellers spending about the same amount of money per trip overall.

NZ Number One People's Choice-Again!

NZ has won the Guardian & Observer's People's Choice award for best long-haul travel destination. NZ has won the award three out of the past four years, and no other country has won this award as many times. The awards were launched 16 years ago to poll readers on their views of the travel industry.

New Air Services Agreement with China

New air services arrangements negotiated with China mean NZ and Chinese airlines may now operate to and from any points in each country. There is also more flexibility provided for the airlines of each country to operate via third countries and beyond each other's territory. Open skies arrangements have been agreed for the operation of all-cargo services. Cargo aircraft may now operate without any restrictions on routes or the number of flights offered. Restrictions on the types of aircraft that can be used for passenger services have been removed, effectively doubling the number of seats that can be offered. Restrictions on the number of airlines that may operate services have also been removed.

Savings Product Working Group Appointees

The Government has appointed members to a special Savings Product Working Group to advise on the design and implementation of work-based savings products for retirement. The members are: Peter Harris (chair), Diana Crossan, Mike Woodbury, Bernard Reid, Ross Kent, and Andrew Leys. The working group is to report to the Government by the end of August 2004.

One in Three Programmes is NZ-Made

A third of the programmes screened on NZ television (33.1 percent to be exact) last year were locally produced, according to a survey report, the Local Content Survey, released by NZ On Air. The main findings include:

  • NZ-made children's programmes are up by 81 hours on the previous year;
  • TV One, TV2 and TV3 have all exceeded targets they agreed to for 2003 (local content on TV One reached 54.6 percent, TV2 24.3 percent and TV3 20.4 percent, against targets of 52 percent, 17 percent and 20 percent, respectively);
  • total hours of NZ programming on the three channels amounted to 6,675 (compared with 7,201 in 2002 and 6,190 in 2001);
  • prime time local content hours increased by 6 percent over 2002; and
  • documentary and Maori programming increased.

Television Advertising Breaks Records

Television advertising revenue totalled $591.7 million ($516 million in 2002) for the 12 months to 31 December 2003. This is an increase of $75.7 million or 14.7 percent over the same period in 2002 and breaks last year's record return. Revenue for the quarter ending 31 December 2003 was $176 million compared with $151.1 million in the same quarter in 2002, an increase of $24.9 million or 16.5 percent.

Strong rises in spending on television advertising in the December quarter were reported by Nielsen Media Research in the categories of home improvements, banking and investment, leisure/entertainment, cosmetics, retail and telecommunications.

Vodafone Increases Market Share

Vodafone has increased its share of NZ mobile phone users to 54.6 percent in the latest quarter from 54 percent, widening its lead over Telecom. Vodafone had 1.61 million mobile customers at 31 March, up from 1.53 million. Telecom had 1.34 million customers, up from 1.30 million.

Misleading Promotion Costs Marketing Company $9,000

Misleading electricity customers about the chance to win free power if they took out "PowerPLUS" power insurance has cost marketing company David Barrowclough Direct Limited $9,000. The Commerce Commission has laid similar charges against Royal Sun Alliance Insurance (NZ) Limited, Bay of Plenty Electricity Limited, as well as King Country Energy and Todd Energy Limited, both trading as FreshStart Energy. The four companies are defending the charges.

David Barrowclough Direct promoted power insurance policies on behalf of the underwriters, Royal Sun Alliance, and the power companies over a period from February 2000 to December 2001. The offer of power insurance was made to commercial and residential account holders of the power companies by way of telemarketing and mail-out brochures.

The Commission alleged that during that time, a prize draw to win free power for customers who took up the insurance was promoted by the defendants when they had not agreed on draw dates or determined who would be responsible for making the draws and providing or paying for the prizes. Around 3,500 customers took up the offer.

Although a prize draw was eventually arranged by Royal Sun Alliance and Todd Energy and held in July 2002, it took place after the Commerce Commission had started its investigation and communicated with the defendants about its concerns. In sentencing, the presiding judge said that she had no criticism of the insurance cover itself but there was "clear and considerable negligence" in failing to hold a draw in a timely fashion. She also commented that David Barrowclough Direct had a central role in arranging the scheme and that two and a half years between the launch of the scheme and the first draw was "too long".

Replace those N379 Series Passports for Free

NZers with passports beginning with the number series N379 can get a replacement passport at no cost. The replacement passport will be valid up to the expiry date of the existing passport. The replacements are being offered due to recent investigations that uncovered counterfeit NZ passports in Thailand being produced using the N379 number. Most of the real passports with these numbers were issued in one week of April 1998.

People holding N379 passports can apply for a new passport by getting in touch with the Contact Centre of the Passport Service on 0800 22 50 50, or by accessing their website at www.passports.govt.nz and getting an application form. The full normal application process will apply.

Marlborough Aviation Heritage Centre

The Marlborough region is set to receive $2 million from NZ Trade and Enterprise's Regional Partnership Programme to help establish an Aviation Heritage Centre and Park. The park is designed to house and display working heritage aircraft, and provide a business park and aeronautical training. The centre will be open in time for the Classic Fighters Airshow in Easter 2005. The Aviation Centre and Business Park are to be owned and operated by the Marlborough Aviation Heritage Centre Trust and located on land leased adjacent to Omaka Airfield, 3 km from Blenheim.

Earliest Fijians: New Date

An archeological discovery in Fiji has proved that Fijians were present in the country earlier than previously believed. Radiocarbon dating in NZ of intricate pieces of pottery found on Natadola Beach near Nadi has placed their age at 1260BC. The pottery was found by geography students of the University of the South Pacific as part of their field work last December. This has been called the most significant archeological find in Fiji's history and puts back the existence of Fijians in the country by 200 years. Thanks to "NewsRoom"

Working Holiday Scheme with Finland

Young NZers will be able to live and work in Finland for up to a year following the signing of a Working Holiday Scheme between the two countries. The scheme, which will come into effect later in the year, provides for an annual quota of 200 young NZ travellers, aged between 18 and 30, to spend time in Finland, and vice versa. NZ now has 10 arrangements with European countries, with schemes having already been concluded with the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium.

US Brands Viewed Negatively: Survey Results

A new worldwide study of consumer attitudes has found a declining respect for American cultural values, and that this is having a negative effect on the image of US brands such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Nike and Microsoft. The number of people who like and use US branded products has fallen significantly over the past year, while brands perceived to be non-American have remained relatively stable.

According to NOP World, which carried out the survey, a mixture of America's involvement in Iraq, its handling of the "war against terrorism", corporate scandals such as WorldCom and its failure to sign up to the Kyoto environmental agreement, have all had a negative affect on the perception of US culture and its major brands.

NOP found the popularity and consumption of US products had declined for the first time since the research programme was launched in 1998. Until 2002, NOP found that brands such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola were notching up healthy annual growth in terms of use and familiarity in international markets. However, last year NOP discovered that the growth in popularity of all major consumer brands - including those from Europe and Asia - had stalled. Over the past 12 months the positive trend has gone into reverse, with US products hardest hit. The total number of consumers worldwide who "use" US brands was found to have fallen from 30 percent to 27 percent, while non-American brands remained stable at 24 percent.

It also found the decline in interest and respect for US products was reflected in consumers' view of American cultural values. Another finding was that a growing number of consumers around the world were found by NOP to believe that some positive elements of American culture such as internationalism, altruism and tolerance have declined.

Word Record Speed-Texter

A British mobile phone network engineer has become the world's fastest texter. James Trusler, 30, from Shoreham, West Sussex, beat his previous world text messaging record by nearly a minute on Australian TV to claim the prize. He had to type: "The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human." He typed the message in just 67 seconds.

Sustainable Land Use Workshops

An impressive line up of scientific experts is coming to the West Coast for a week of workshops in June to help explore local issues surrounding sustainable land use. Speakers at a series of free workshops will include Dr Craig Ross, Senior Scientist from Landcare Research, Jill Stanley, a plant physiologist from HortResearch and Dr Prue Williams, General Manager, together with Brian Smallfield, Research Leader New Crops, from Crop and Food Research. They will be talking on such issues as soils and climate in relation to new cropping potential, improved farming systems, and new technologies to increase land productivity.

The workshops run at Hari Hari, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport and Karamea in the week of 14 June. It is expected that they will lead to an on-going programme of field days, seminars, workshops, and information gathering and sharing.

Anyone wanting to attend should phone Tai Poutini Polytechnic on 0800 800 411 to register

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