Internet Items
Public Sector Websites to be More Accessible. An approved set of web guidelines across the public sector has been released. The main focus of the guidelines is to ensure that government websites take into consideration older technology and software, slow connections to the Internet, and people with disabilities. They also promote consistent use of Maori language and sensible approaches to website design. The Government has directed public service departments to comply with the guidelines. State sector organisations are strongly encouraged to follow suit, and local government and private sector are also invited to adopt the guidelines.
View the Guidelines at: http://www.e-government.govt.nz/web-guidelines/ |
Internet Erosion of TV Viewing Habits Deepens. That's the main result from a recent University of California (UCLA) study. For four years, UCLA has undertaken a 16-country study of more than 10,000 youths on how the Internet is affecting society. It has found that of the 11.8 hours the average Internet user spends online weekly, more than half is coming from TV viewing and almost none from sleep or socialisation. The Internet caused the number of hours children 14 and under spend watching TV to decline for the first time in 1998, a trend that has continued in recent years. But only in 2002 did Internet usage begin to affect time spent with print media, and then only modestly. Internet users watch 28 percent less TV than non-Internet users, though Internet users still spend more time watching TV than they spend on the Internet.
2003 Survey of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry: Provisional Results. These figures cover livestock, cropping, horticulture and forestry and are available at a national level. Access these statistics.
Final figures, including regional information, are due for release on 28 May.
Crowding Report: Household Crowding and Health Chapter Available. Towards the end of 2003, the report "What is the Extent of Crowding in New Zealand?" was released. However, at that time, chapter 5 "Household Crowding and Health" was still being finalised. This chapter is now available. It reviews some of the evidence that demonstrates a linkage between crowding and health. It then presents descriptive data on three infectious diseases (meningococcal disease, acute rheumatic fever, and tuberculosis) and explores how these are related to crowding at the neighbourhood level. A number of GIS maps summarise these results. Link to this chapter.
Labour Market Statistics 2003. "Labour Market Statistics 2003" is Statistics NZ's main reference publication of NZ's labour market-related statistics. Information covered includes people employed, unemployed and not in the labour force, education and training, labour income and labour costs, hours of work and industrial relations. Some international comparisons are also provided. Link to this publication Printed copies priced at $30.00 can be ordered from publications@stats.govt.nz
Labour Market Overview 2003: Article. This article gives an overview of the NZ labour market using data from a range of Statistics NZ surveys. The topics covered include: the working age population and migration; employment and job growth; unemployment; the labour force; hours of work; earnings and income; and industrial relations. Read this article.
Demographic Trends 2003. This annual publication contains commentaries, diagrams and tables on the major demographic indicators. Topics covered include population change and structure, fertility, marriage, divorce, mortality, external migration, induced abortions, population estimates and projections. Each of these topics includes a series of detailed statistical tables, which are contained in an attached Excel file. Link to this publication. Printed copies priced at $40.00 can be ordered from publications@stats.govt.nz
Minutes From Land Access Public Meetings Published. Minutes from the public meetings on walking access to land have been made public. The written record of the stakeholder and public meetings held in September to November 2003 and a report summarising those meetings are available on the MAF website. The minutes can be accessed from http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/people-and-their-issues/access/meeting-notes/. The report summary of meetings can be accessed from http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/people-and-their-issues/access/consultation-summary
Bird Flu Resource. The Ministry of Health webpage on avian influenza can be found at www.moh.govt.nz/birdflu
Online Purchasing Soars in US. Americans are continuing to use the Internet as a buying channel. Retail sales over the Internet and other electronic networks surged in the fourth quarter of 2003, making up a record share - almost 2 percent - of total retail sales. The Commerce Department said online sales (purchases over the Internet, by email, or other electronic networks) rose 29.7 percent to $17.2 billion in the final three months of 2003, versus the fourth quarter of 2002. Overall retail sales rose 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter.
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
