Update

Update

Agricultural Recovery Programme (ARP) Update

Information and application forms for assistance under the ARP to farmers, foresters and growers affected by the Lower North island storm are now available from MAF's website at www.maf.govt.nz, email floods@maf.govt.nz, tel (06) 351 7921, and fax (04) 474 4206.

Applications will be assessed by local assessment committees against criteria set by Government.

Population Growth Eases

According to Statistics NZ, the resident population of NZ was estimated at 4,054,200 at 31 March 2004. In the March 2004 year, the estimated population growth was 56,700 (1.4 percent), lower than the growth of 68,400 (1.7 percent) recorded in the March 2003 year. The population change recorded in the March 2004 year is still higher than the average annual increase of 44,500 (1.2 percent) for March years from 1994 to 2004.

The net gain from permanent and long-term migration accounted for almost half (49 percent) of the population growth in the March 2004 year, whereas in the March 2003 year, the relative gain from permanent and long-term migration reached a high of 61 percent. In the March 2004 year, permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 28,000. The remaining 51 percent of the population growth was due to natural increase (excess of births over deaths). Natural increase was 28,700 in the March 2004 year, a marginal increase of 1,200 when compared with the March 2003 year (26,900).

The population aged 65 years and over (65+) continues to be the age group with the highest population growth. The 65+ age group has grown by 70,800 (17.1 percent) over the last decade to reach 484,800 at 31 March 2004. The working-age population (15-64 years), which accounted for 66.2 percent of the population in the March 2004 year, was estimated at 2,683,700 in 2004, an increase of 319,700 (13.5 percent) when compared with the March 1994 year. The number of children aged under 15 years grew by a smaller margin of 52,300 (6.3 percent) during the same 10-year period, to reach 885,600 in the March 2004 year.

Migration Continues to Slow

Migration is continuing to slow, with the net migration gain in the year to the end of March down 33 percent on the previous year. Statistics NZ says there were 87,500 permanent or long-term arrivals in the March year, while 59,500 people left the country either permanently or on a long-term basis. That resulted in a net migration gain for the year of 28,000. Immigrants from Britain made the biggest contribution to the net gain, followed by those from China, India and Japan.

Meanwhile, visitors to the country rose by just over 100,000 in the year to the end of March.

Latest figures show 2,163,000 people visited NZ during that period, up five percent on the 12 months before. There were more than 100,000 additional visits from Australia, with visitors from the UK up by 36,000. Partly offsetting those were drops in arrivals from Japan, China and Taiwan.

Thanks to "NewsRoom"

Aboriginal Life Expectancy Study

A study has found that Australian Aborigines are dying much younger than indigenous people in four other western countries. The research has found that the life expectancy of Aborigines is more than 10 years lower than that of indigenous people in NZ, Canada and the US. It found that Canada's Indian community has the highest life expectancy rate of 72.9 years, followed by NZ Maori at 72.1 and American Indians at 70.6. The research ranked the well-being of indigenous people in the four countries by comparing them in three areas - life expectancy, education and income. It used census data between 1991 and 2001.

Thanks to "NewsRoom"

NZ Global Ranking

NZ climbed to eighth on the globalisation index run by Management Consultants A T Kearney and Foreign Policy magazine in the US. The rise from 16th place last year to eighth was driven by an increase in secure Internet servers - with NZ having the second highest number in the world on a per capita basis. NZ also rates near the top position for its contributions to United Nations peace keeping forces - again on a per capita basis. Ireland topped the index while NZ ranked immediately behind the US. Australia also climbed up the index from 20th to 13th place.

Thanks to "NewsRoom 2004"

A Cold April

April was colder (by 1.3oC) and drier than usual, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). In fact, this April was the coldest for 11 years, with Timaru, Gore and Tiwai Point near Invercargill recording their lowest ever mean temperatures for the month. More easterly winds meant drier weather on the West Coast, where Franz Josef and Wanaka had their driest April on record. May and June are also expected to be cooler than normal.

Of the four main centres Wellington was the sunniest and Auckland the driest. Rainfall was near average in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and well below average in Auckland. Temperatures were below average in all four centres. Sunshine hours were well above normal in Dunedin, near normal in Auckland and Wellington, and below average in Christchurch.

Suicide Prevention Programme Extended

The Government is extending its youth suicide prevention programme to cover all age groups. This move has happened because the most at-risk groups, such as men aged 20-24, were not covered by the youth strategy. Provisional suicide statistics for 2001 showed that young adults aged 20-24 years had the highest suicide rates at 25.3 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by adults aged 25-29 years (21.7 deaths per 100,000 population) and 30-34 year olds (21.2 per 100,000 population).

Other findings of the 2001 suicide statistics include:

  • the total number of suicides for 2001 was 499, up from 458 in 2000 but down from 516 in 1999 and 577 in 1998;
  • males continued to have a higher suicide death rate than females in 2001, with a rate of 18.3 compared to 5.5 per 100,000 population. Between 2000 and 2001 the suicide rate decreased for males (18.7 to 18.3 per 100,000 population) and increased for females (4.0 to 5.5 per 100,000 population);
  • the total rate of youth suicide (15-24 years) increased, with 20.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 2001 compared with 18.1 per 100,000 population in 2000;
  • in 2001 the all-ages sex ratio for suicide was 3.3 male suicides to every female suicide, and the youth suicide (15-24 years) was 3.7 male suicides to every female suicide;
  • NZ has the highest male youth suicide rate (15-24 years) and second highest female youth suicide rate compared to other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries;
  • Maori continue to have a higher suicide rate than non-Maori. The 2001 suicide rates for Maori males and females (20.7 and 6.8 per 100,000 population) were higher than for non-Maori males and females (17.7 and 4.9 per 100,000 population);
  • youth (15-24 years) have a much higher rate of hospitalisation rate for intentional self-harm in 2002 (186.5 cases per 100,000) than the total population (85.5 cases); and
  • more females are hospitalised for self-inflicted harm than males with a ratio in 2001 of 2.1 female hospitalisations to every male hospitalisation.

Non Smokers Living With Smokers

There is new evidence that non-smokers who live with smokers have a significantly higher chance of dying early than those who live in a smokefree home. In what is being billed as the world's largest study on second-hand smoking and mortality, researchers at the Wellington School of Medicine compared the death rates of more than 600,000 older adults who indicated they were non-smokers in the 1981 and 1996 NZ censuses. They found that those who lived with smokers had a 15 percent greater risk of dying early than those who did not live with smokers. This finding did not change even when they took into account such things as differences in age, ethnicity, marital status and socioeconomic factors. The study has been published by the British Medical Journal.

Thanks to "NewsRoom"

Ibuprofen Available from Supermarkets

The over-the-counter pain reliever medicine ibuprofen can now be brought from both supermarkets and pharmacies, giving NZ consumers the same access to ibuprofen as consumers in the US, the UK and Australia. Consumers can buy small packets of ibuprofen from the same places where they buy similar products like aspirin and paracetamol.

Rural Nurse Scholarships Scheme Extended

A further six of these scholarships are to be awarded in the 2005 academic year (with funding for further years on the cards, too). Six of the scholarships were introduced last year. The scholarships allow registered nurses to take one year off to complete the necessary study to bring their qualifications up to nurse practitioner level, with prescribing competencies. The nurses each receive over $40,000 towards their living expenses.

Rural Nurse Postgraduate Programme

A new postgraduate diploma for rural nurses was announced recently. The programme will allow 40 rural nurses to study fulltime over two years. Students will be enrolled at Auckland University, with the diploma course jointly run by the University and the Institute of Rural Health. The first 20 postgraduate students will enrol in July and another 20 start in February 2005.

The Ministry of Health's Clinical Training Agency (CTA) is helping develop and deliver the diploma, in consultation with rural communities and other rural health professionals. The diploma will be mostly extramural, but will involve some classroom, clinical and onsite training. Government funding will cover course fees, assistance with travel and accommodation costs and payments to employers to help replace nurses while they're studying.

Review of Human Tissue Uses

The use of human tissue for therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes is being reviewed by the Ministry of Health. The review covers many issues, including informed consent, the safety of tissue-based therapies, and the legislative arrangements for organ and tissue donation. There is a discussion paper associated with the review.

Note: The discussion paper proposes that human tissue be defined as: the whole body or part of a body; bone; a whole organ such as the heart; parts of organs, such as heart valves; other tissue, such as corneas or skin; tissue specimens; foetal material; cellular material; and cell lines.

Currently, the regulation of human tissue related issues is spread across a number of different Acts and regulations. Some matters aren't well covered and other parts of the legislation are out of date. It is expected that new legislation will come into being by June 2005.

This review would provide the framework for the new legislation, with the aim of updating the regime consistent with current practice and the expectations NZers have of the health and disability system. It is proposed the new legislation would cover:

  • provisions for the collection of tissue for therapeutic purposes - organ and tissue donation;
  • consent for the collection of tissue for research and education;
  • consent for non-coronial post-mortem examinations;
  • definitions of who is able to give consent for tissue use on behalf of a deceased person;
  • provisions regarding the sale and purchase of tissue;
  • provisions that allow new tissue-based technologies to be controlled while they are assessed for acceptability and safety; and
  • consent for the collection of tissue for research and education.

The discussion paper suggests that formal standards could be developed for tissue banking and organ donation. The standards would be based on voluntary codes and standards that have been developed by people involved in these services.

The document also asks for comments on privacy and the use of genetic information (specimens in particular), the use of foetal tissue, and controls on xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of live cells, tissue, or organs from another species (e.g., pigs) into humans. Xenotransplantation is not currently happening in NZ and under the Medicines Act 1981, no one can carry out xenotransplantation without the Minister of Health's permission.

A copy of the discussion paper is available on the Ministry of Health website. Submissions close on 4 June 2004 and can be made through the Ministry of Health's website at www.moh.govt.nz or sent to: The Human Tissue Review, Sector Policy Directorate, Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington

Lottery Money Promotes Youth Development

The Lottery Youth National Committee recently approved 64 grants totaling $646,119 to organisations around the country. Grants include:

  • $13,5000 to The Stage Challenge Inc (Auckland) for event costs and venue hire;
  • $5,400 to the Boys Brigade NZ Inc for a national leadership development camp; and
  • $12,150 to the Marlborough Youth Trust to cover salary, training and supervision and volunteer expenses.

Last year, Lottery Grants Board youth committees distributed nearly $5 million of lottery money to communities around NZ. Outside of direct government contributions, lottery funds are the most significant source of community development in NZ.

The NZ Lotteries Commission funds the Lottery Grants Board, which also allocates money to Sport and Recreation NZ, Creative NZ and the Film Commission. For more information on lottery grants visit www.cdgo.govt.nz, www.dia.govt.nz, or call 0800 824 824

Language Line Wins Permanent Funding

A telephone interpreting service (Language Line) offering 35 different languages is to receive on-going funding after a highly successful pilot. The pilot set out to aid communication between ethnic NZers and key government agencies, such as the Accident Compensation Corporation, and the Police. Language Line recognises that 50,000 people in NZ speak no English and at least another 250,000 have only limited English.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs has $1.266 million available to support Language Line in the coming year. The service will continue to be available to: Accident Compensation Corporation, Housing NZ Corporation, Department of Internal Affairs, NZ Police, Ministry of Social Development and NZ Immigration Service. Language Line is free to clients of the above agencies, and the service operates Monday to Friday, 10am until 6pm.

Fletcher Building Seeks Negotiated Greenhouse Agreement

The Government will start negotiating a Negotiated Greenhouse Agreement (NGA) with Fletcher Building Limited. Fletcher Building's manufacturing businesses that are eligible to negotiate an NGA include its cement, wood panels and laminates, and steel and wire operations.

An NGA is a binding agreement between a firm and the Government that commits the firm to moving towards world's best practice in managing greenhouse gas emissions. In return, the Government provides a full or partial exemption for the firm from the emissions charge that is to be introduced by 2008. NGAs are limited to firms or industries whose international competitiveness would be at risk from an emissions charge.

The Government has signed one NGA, with the NZ Refining Company, and is negotiating others with ACI Glass Packaging, Norske Skog Tasman, mining companies Newmont Waihi and OceanaGold (formerly GRD Macraes), Silicon Metal Industries Limited, NZ Aluminium Smelters Limited and some of Carter Holt Harvey's major NZ manufacturing operations.

The NZ Climate Change Office at the Ministry for the Environment takes applications from firms seeking NGAs and assesses their eligibility and priority. It has further applications under assessment.

Companies Fees Reduced for Online Filing

Nearly 300,000 companies will no longer have to pay to file annual returns online with the Companies Office. The cost of filing an online annual return, currently $15, will be eliminated from 1 July.

Other fee reductions on electronic services will also take effect on 1 July:

  • searching for information about a company halves from $2 to $1;
  • Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) registration reduces from $5 to $3;
  • PPSR searches by financing statement registration number reduce from $1.50 to $1; and
  • full PPSR searches reduces from $3 to $1.

About 340,000 companies are registered with the NZ Companies Office. Access to online services is available at www.companies.govt.nz, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sharemarket Education Programme Being Developed

NZ Exchange Limited (NZX) is developing an education programme tailored to the NZ securities markets. The programme aims to boost the level and quality of sharemarket-related education available to market participants and retail investors. NZX is looking to appoint a NZ-based education provider to design, develop and put the programme in place. The tenders process is now open for organisations wishing to submit proposals. Tenders close at the end of July, and it's hoped to put in the place the education programmes in January 2005.

Maori TV Wins Tax Exempt Status

The bid by the Maori Television Service to be exempt from paying income tax has proved successful. The channel, which went to air last month, applied for charitable status last year; and the Inland Revenue Department has decided it qualifies. It qualifies because the channel has not been set up to make profits. Other broadcasters already have charitable status, including Triangle Television, Radio BfM and Radio Rhema.

Thanks to "NewsRoom"

NZ On Air's Research Programme For 2004

NZ On Air has announced its 2004 research programme to investigate the role and importance of local content on television and radio in NZ. Four research projects have been commissioned for completion in 2004. They are:

  • the Local Content Report (an analysis of local content on NZ television, due to be published about now);
  • a review of radio services for ethnic minorities (to assess how best to provide for these communities, to be published mid-year);
  • public Information and Opinion Monitor (looking at the public's awareness, understanding and support for NZ On Air and its functions); and
  • an update on a study into developments in digital broadcasting internationally (to be conducted towards the end of 2004).

Last year NZ On Air published five research projects. The most significant was a study of public service broadcasting across six countries, which found that the factors influencing broadcasting policy and funding are similar for many countries. Other projects from 2003 were:

  • Archiving Report (a review of radio and television archiving in NZ);
  • Regional TV Research Report (a quantitative and qualitative study researching the role of regional television);
  • Public Information Monitor 2003; and
  • Local Content Report 2002.

Research reports (as well as a range of other publications) can be accessed from the "Policy and Research" page on the NZ On Air website at www.nzonair.govt.nz

Tourism's Economic Importance Increases

Tourism's importance to the NZ economy increased further during 2003. The latest International Visitors Survey (IVS) indicates tourism expenditure topped $6.3 billion in 2003, a rise of 3.9 percent from 2002. This places tourism ahead of dairy ($5.5 billion) as NZ's largest export industry, even excluding NZ's international airfare receipts.

Over the same period, international visitor arrivals increased by 3 percent. Looking at visitor numbers compared with spending patterns, the data shows that visitor spending has increased at a higher rate than visitor arrivals. An average international visitor now spends $3,344, excluding international airfares, while in NZ - which means that each visitor is equivalent to the export value of 1.3 tonnes of butter, 1.6 tonnes of kiwifruit, 2.7 tonnes of apples and half a tonne of lamb meat. Another thing to note about the 3 percent increase in visitor numbers, though, was that global travel, as a whole, dropped by 1.2 percent in 2003. So, NZ did pretty well.

By market, there have been some significant movements with the US and Japanese markets declining by 17.6 percent and 11.6 percent respectively, the UK and China markets were stable, whereas the Australian and South Korean markets increased by 25.8 percent and 133.7 percent respectively (although just why South Korea has jumped so much is unclear from the current data).

The US market in particular was hampered by the depreciation of the US dollar against the NZ dollar. Analysis shows that US visitors have been consistently spending roughly the same amount in terms of their home currency over the last six years. However, the depreciating value of the US dollar converts to a lower spend in NZ dollar terms in 2003.

The strongest performance came from Australia ($1,176 million, up 26 percent) which surpassed $1 billion for the first time. The drivers of this performance were increases in arrivals (up 11 percent) and spend per visit (up 3 percent).

The latest IVS release contains information to the year ending December 2003. Complete figures are available on www.trcnz.govt.nz

Varroa Board of Inquiry Appointed

The board to investigate a proposed Varroa National Pest Management Strategy has been appointed. Board members are Denise Church, Brian Mason and Helen Benard. The board of inquiry will hold hearings and review the proposal and submissions made on the proposed strategy, before making recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture. The board will hold several public hearings in Wellington and around the South Island over late May and early June. Those who made submissions on the proposal will be invited to speak and call evidence. Members of the public may attend these hearings as observers.

The Role of the Correspondence School

The Ministry of Education is undertaking a project looking into the services that the government and the national schools system will require from its school of distance education in the future. The project, called "The Future Role of The Correspondence School" was requested by the school itself, and is focusing on the following issues:

  • identifying the contribution that the Correspondence School currently makes to the achievement of government objectives, and the contribution that it would be expected to make in the future;
  • evaluating the school's capacity to deliver on this;
  • developing strategies to ensure the school has the capacity to meet its expected future contribution;
  • the adequacy of the current resourcing system for the school; and
  • developing operational policies that support the school in meeting its expected future contribution.

The project is looking at the services that the Government wants the school to deliver rather than the internal structures and staffing in the school, which are matters for its board. It will also explore how developments in technology and teaching practice are impacting on the work of the school.

It's expected the project will end in the second half of this year, and any changes put in place from 2005. Public consultation will occur in the next few months.

The Correspondence School provides distance education at early childhood, primary and secondary level to over 20,000 students, about half of whom are also enrolled at other institutions. About one third of the roll, or 6,000 students, are considered to be at risk. These include those who have been referred to the school on psychological or psychosocial grounds, have literacy and numeracy problems, and who might have been excluded or expelled from face-to-face school.

Laptop Scheme Reaches More Rural Teachers

Around 40 teachers at rural schools are set to benefit from an extension to the Laptops for Teachers scheme. The scheme reimburses each school for two-thirds of the cost of leasing a laptop, with schools or teachers paying the remaining cost. It currently covers 15,000 secondary and intermediate teachers and 2,680 principals. The extension means the scheme will now apply to all permanent full-time primary school teachers of years 1-6 in area schools over the next three months - with most of the newly eligible schools in rural areas.

Te Arawa Entering Treaty Negotiations

The iwi and hapu of Te Arawa - based in Rotorua - have joined together to negotiate the settlement of their Treaty of Waitangi claims. With 40,000 members, this is the largest grouping ever to enter settlement negotiations. The negotiations will cover around 100 claims lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal. The Crown and Te Arawa will negotiate to reach an agreement within two years on a Crown package to settle Te Arawa's historical Treaty claims. At this stage the negotiations will not cover the claims of three Te Arawa groups (Ngati Makino, Waitaha and Tapuika) who have not yet joined the negotiations.

The next step for the Crown and Te Arawa will be to agree Terms of Negotiation, setting out the ground rules for how negotiations will be conducted. The Te Arawa Lakes claim, which is already in negotiations, will continue to be negotiated separately.

Maori Microsoft Project: Phase One

The first phase of a project to develop Maori versions of two Microsoft products began recently. Contributions are being sought from the public so that a Te Reo glossary of terms can be developed for the Maori versions of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office System 2003. It is expected that 80 percent of the programs will have a Maori language interface. Microsoft also hopes to develop software commands in Te Reo. The project is a joint collaboration between the Maori Language Commission and Microsoft. Once the programs are complete they will be able to be downloaded for free.

Skilled Migrant Category Numbers

Eight hundred prospective migrants have been deemed eligible to apply for residency under the new Skilled Migrant Category. The category has been in force for a month, and is part of a new policy aimed at recruiting migrants that meet NZ's skill needs. Three thousand people have expressed an interest under the category, which ranks people on a points system according to skill level and employability. Those invited to apply under the category will also be able to bring family members.

Thanks to "NewsRoom"

New Science Funding Round

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology has announced $80 million of new research funding focused on creating economic spin-offs for NZ. More than half the money will go to research in the manufacturing and service industries, and a quarter to innovative foods research. The remainder has been spent on natural hazards and the investigation of niche high-tech products. Some organisations have had fewer successful bids for projects this round and face significant budget cuts (for example, Industrial Research and the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences). Some of the major projects that are to be funded include:

  • A new six year research programme to provide the NZ food industry with the knowledge and tools to produce added value convenience foods (funding of $18.4 million). The programme is led by Crop & Food Research scientists and overseen by food industry leaders, and the programme has attracted a further $3.4 million over six years from industry. The initial target is to develop convenient snack foods which have the appeal of fresh baked foods, but have extended shelf life and specific health benefits. Research into other food products will follow.
  • A new, food-based approach to managing a health complaint which affects millions of people world-wide is the subject of a four-year $2.4 million research programme being led by Crop & Food Research scientists. The programme, which has just received $2 million funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, is being undertaken in partnership with the natural health care company, Comvita. The research aims to develop foods which either prevent or treat conditions associated with infection by Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium which causes gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. These conditions are traditionally treated with drugs once the symptoms appear.
  • Eighteen projects will share a total of $22 million per year to research ways generating exports in the manufacturing and service industries area. The successful research projects include the development of innovative building products, "smart" food packaging, and the production of high value chemicals from NZ's renewable materials.
  • In the area of natural hazards, twelve research programmes from around the country will share $13.8 million per year. The research aims to help people be more prepared for natural hazards, and for them to recover more quickly from their consequences. The new programmes include creating a digital hazards database, studies of active volcanoes in the North Island, research into social and economic recovery after hazard events, and effective new hazard prediction techniques.
  • Research contracts amounting to at least $14 million over at least 4 years have been granted to Forest Research and partner organisations, Canesis Network Ltd, Crop & Food Research and the University of Auckland, under the umbrella of the Biopolymer Network. The network partners will develop high performance polymers and composites from forest and agricultural resources.

Latest Energy Statistics

The latest edition of the Ministry of Economic Development's "Energy Data File", a comprehensive bi-annual volume of energy statistics, has been released. It includes statistics on energy supply, demand and prices, and shows that:

  • Total primary energy supply in the year to September 2003 declined by about 1 percent, due mainly to a 17 percent drop in gas supply (mostly due to lower Maui gas production) and a 9 percent drop in geothermal supply. This was partially offset by a 25 percent increase in coal supply, a 9 percent increase in imports of oil and oil products, a 9 percent increase in hydro and a 5 percent increase in wood bioenergy.
  • Total final energy consumption for the same period increased by 7.7 percent. Oil consumption increased by about 7 percent and coal use (including exports) by 25 percent. This was partially offset by a reduction in gas use for electricity generation (including cogeneration) of about 10 percent and a drop of about 35 percent in gas use for petrochemical production, primarily methanol production.
  • In real terms (March 2003 dollars) the national weighted average electricity price for the year to March 2003 was 10.8 cents a kilowatt-hour, an increase of about 5 percent compared with 2002. Again in real terms, average residential electricity prices (incl. GST) at 15.5 c/kWh were 4 percent higher than in 2002; average commercial electricity prices (excl. GST) at 10.8 c/kWh were nearly 6 percent higher; and average industrial electricity prices (excl. GST) at 7.2 c/kWh were about 8 percent higher.

"Energy Overview" from the Energy Data File January 2004 is available free at: www.med.govt.nz

Global Contraception Use

Nearly two-thirds of women of child-bearing age in marital or consensual unions use contraception, with the highest percentage found in Latin America and the Caribbean and the lowest in Africa, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) says. In a new wall chart called "World Contraceptive Use 2003," DESA's Population Division, assessing family planning practices in 160 countries or areas, says contraception has been increasing steadily over the past decade and 61 percent of women aged 15 to 49 years worldwide now use contraceptives. The percentage for the 170 million women in the richer countries is 69 percent, compared with 59 percent of 873 million women in developing countries. The rate for the 117 million women in Africa is 27 percent, compared with a rate of 71 percent of the 82 million women in Latin America and the Caribbean, the division says.

Mice Born Without Fathers

Scientists have created two female mice without fertilising the eggs they grew from, the journal "Nature" says. The eggs had two sets of chromosomes from two female mice, rather than one from the mother and one from the father as in a normally fertilised embryo. The phenomenon, called parthenogenesis, never occurs naturally in mammals. Some researchers say the procedures may be applied to stem cell research, but the scientists who carried out the work say it would not yet work in humans.

BIO-GRO NZ Conference

Curious about organics? Already an established organic grower? The many facets of organic production will be explored during the two-day BIO-GRO Conference being held in Hamilton this June. Success stories and presentations on how to convert to organics, the latest research, marketing and exporting, and working with the RMA will be given. There will be sessions devoted to specific areas too: dairy and meat, horticulture and aquaculture. Organic and biodynamic viticulture will be another focus with speakers from three vineyards. The second day will be spent visiting a local organic dairy farm, orchard and packhouse.

For established growers, there will be talks and displays on the latest in organic management practices and on recent developments in organic research. The business side will be covered by government and business leaders. They will talk about the keys to successful marketing and export - and the realities.

Over the two days, the BIO-GRO team and board will be on hand to meet people and answer queries about BIO-GRO, organics and the certification process. BIO-GRO is NZ's leading organic certification agency. Established in 1983, BIO-GRO now certifies over 700 operations across NZ's primary production, processing, farm input supply, export and retail sectors. BIO-GRO trademarks more than $100 million worth of product every year. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take in the many trade stands and displays that will cover topics as diverse as improving soil quality to managing internal parasites.

The conference will be held at Rydges Le Grand Hotel in Hamilton, 20 and 21 June. The theme for the two-day event is "Organics on the move". The conference is open to anyone who is interested. For more information about the Conference, or BIO-GRO in general, consult the BIO-GRO website, www.bio-gro.co.nz or contact BIO-GRO: tel (04) 801 9741

Smallfarming NZ Conference 2004

The annual Smallfarming NZ Conference this year is being held at Sapphire Springs near Katokati in the Bay of Plenty, on 2, 3 and 4 July. The theme this year is "Exploring Opportunities" with the focus on ideas, innovation and investment. There will be a wide range of seminars presented with emphasis on how people got started on a new venture, and what joys and pitfalls they have experienced. Topics will include livestock, horticulture, service industries and rural tourism.

Keep an eye for conference details on www.smallfarming.org.nz

Living and Learning Together Conference

This conference is about the role of human rights education in strengthening communities in NZ and the Pacific. It is being held on 11-13 July 2004 at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland. The overall theme for the conference is "Living and Learning Together: the Role of Human Rights Education in Strengthening Communities in NZ and the Pacific".

The conference will offer two streams:

  • Formal education - pre-school through to tertiary; and
  • Life-long learning - community development, the workplace, media and our own lives.

The conference will particularly appeal to all those interested in applying human rights education principles - whether as practitioners, managers, academics, teachers, or educators in a related field, students, caregivers, community workers and those who have a general interest in human rights.

For more information contact Lili Tuioti or Rosi Fitzpatrick, TEUILA Consultancy, PO Box 78 321, Grey Lynn, Auckland, tel (09) 360 0257, fax (09) 360 0258.

Updated Information on the conference and a copy of the registration form can be found at www.hrc.co.nz

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