Resources Available

New Online Legal Information Resource

"LawAccess" is a new online catalogue of law-related information. It gives access to the resources of more than 130 NZ government and non-government organisations. Fully searchable, this new online resource enables users to find current information in their specific areas of interest quickly and easily. Essentially, it is a gateway to an extensive array of information held by the organisations. Users can also find out where their local community law centres are and how to contact them.

LawAccess has been developed as part of the Legal Services Agency Law-Related Education and Legal Information Strategy to improve access to justice. By providing this central index for law-related resources, the Agency aims to support community service providers who help people meet their legal needs. Also, these providers, along with educators and the general public, all need quality information on rights and responsibilities under specific laws.

LawAccess is a progression from the earlier, hard copy version. Published since the early 1990s, this was in demand by help agencies, such as Citizens Advice Bureaux and community law centres, as well as libraries and schools. This new online version will be more widely available with more up-to-date information.

A couple of examples of how the LawAccess service can help people are:

  • timely information for a parent on what the law says about their child's rights at school might mean a child stays at school rather than be expelled - go to LawAccess, quicksearch "school" or click on the category "Education: student/teacher rights", then choose from a list of resources, for example "Kicked out of School - A young Person's Guide to School Expulsion and Suspensions", click on this title to get to the information on Youthlaw's website;
  • appropriate information about wills and Māori land could save family/whanau time, land and money - go to LawAccess, click on the category "Māori: land", then choose from a list of resources, for example "Succession - A Guide", click on the title to get to the information on the Māori Land Court website.

A user can search for a legal information resource by key word, phrase, category or organisation. Each listing generally provides the name and brief description of the resource, contact details for the organisation, the format (pamphlet, video, CD, etc), date of production, any cost involved, translations available, and a link to the resource itself or to an order form or page on the organisation's website.

LawAccess is available at www.lawaccess.lsa.govt.nz

TV Violence Report

A recently released report, "Towards Precautionary Risk Management of TV Violence in NZ", presents the findings of the Government-commissioned Television Violence Working Group. The group comprised broadcasters, community advocates, regulators, producers and academics.

The aim of the project was to provide a contemporary view on violence on TV, whether it represented a problem in the context of NZ society, and if so, what ought to be done about it. In particular the working group was to review the current literature, examine international regulatory mechanisms, measure the amount of violence on NZ TV and evaluate current tools for controlling the level and nature of TV violence in this country.

The Chair of the working group said, "While there is a high incidence of violence shown on NZ TV, its influence on anti-social behaviour is not a simple issue to determine. Studies show that the strength of the relationship between TV violence and violent behaviour is relatively modest. However, this is so with most aspects of human behaviour. Furthermore, not everyone is affected in the same way and the eventual effect is determined by the complex interaction of a number of factors."

The working group's proposals on television violence include:

  • to bring about creative dialogue between viewers, interest groups and broadcasters that strikes a balance between the freedoms of broadcasters and the attitudes and expectations of viewers and communities;
  • an expansion of the educative and informative role of the Broadcasting Standards Authority;
  • education strategies to better inform viewers and communities;
  • more choice for viewers over what they watch through better information;
  • more voice for viewers;
  • an independent and accessible complaints system that protects the rights of viewers to have their concerns taken seriously and to be acted upon if standards are breached; and
  • better research and information on which to base public policy about community responses.

The Working Group also considered and reported on the findings of a six-month research project commissioned from Auckland University of Technology's Centre for Communication Research. This provided a literature survey of international and national research on television violence, an analysis of current levels of television violence taken from a full week's viewing in March last year, and a survey and evaluation of existing regulatory regimes relating to television violence in NZ and other countries.

The Television Violence Working Group report, "Towards Precautionary Risk Management of TV Violence in NZ" and the AUT research report "Television Violence in NZ - A Study of Programming and Policy in International Context" are both available online at www.tv-violence.org.nz Printed copies of the reports can be obtained from PO Box 5364, Wellington. (the working group report is free of charge, the AUT report is $28.00 inc postage and packing)

Biodynamics Report

What is the scientific basis of organic farming? Where is the research that gives it credibility and helps to solve problems? There is a lot of research being done now that provides answers to questions like this from farmers and policy makers. A review of this research, with details of research institutions and their websites, has recently been updated.

The report emphasises that a successful organic farmer or grower farms the varied micro-organisms, worms and other life in their soil in the context of the whole surrounding landscape. How well you manage the soil life determines the productivity and health of crops, pasture and livestock.

The update discusses recent research on indicators for monitoring soil quality, on environmental effects of farming and comparisons of organic and soluble fertilizer systems. The report is particularly relevant for farmers, scientists and policy makers who want more information about organic dairy pasture and orchard soil management.

The report says an holistic, ecological approach is required for future research on soil-plant-animal systems in NZ. This, the report says, would enable a redesign of farming systems to develop high quality, internally regulated soil. This in turn would result in less mineral loss, less pest and disease pressure and less susceptibility to climate extremes. The need for further research on soil fertility measures such as mineral balancing and use of products such as humic acid, seaweed, and vermicast is highlighted.

The report, produced by the Research and Development Group of the Biodynamic Association, can be viewed and downloaded from the website www.biodynamic.org.nz and is available as a hard copy from the Bio Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association PO Box 39 045, Wellington Mail Centre, fax (04) 589 5365, email: biodynamics@clear.net.nz

Ministry of Fisheries Briefing to Incoming Minister

The Ministry of Fisheries" recently released its "Briefing for the Minister of Fisheries", prepared for him shortly after his appointment at the end of February. The briefing looks at the challenges facing the Minister, the Ministry, the seafood industry and the wider community in managing NZ's marine resources, over the next three years.

The briefing says that the operating environment for the Minister of Fisheries and MFish can be very difficult, with fisheries and their management under ongoing public scrutiny. However, it notes that the sector has a very well developed legal and strategic framework for managing complex issues.

The briefing says MFish's capability has been stretched in recent times, with a heavy workload taxing limited resources. It acknowledges that the strategic thrust towards a greater environmental focus and the creation of more opportunities for tangata whenua and stakeholder involvement have contributed to this, and says the Ministry has capacity issues in the specialised enforcement areas.

The document gives detailed advice about a number of immediate issues, including some legislation which has since been dealt with.

The document can be downloaded from: http://www.fish.govt.nz/

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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
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