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Update

Lowest Road Toll in 36 Years

In 2000 462 people were killed on NZ roads - 47 less than in 1999. In 1964, 428 people died in car crashes.

ACC Premiums Heading Down

ACC premiums are to drop from April. The changes are:

  • the average employer premium will drop from $1.16 per $100 of payroll to 90 cents from next April, down 22.4%;
  • self employed premiums will drop from $1.64 to $1.35 per $100 of earnings (down 17%) while the earner premium drops $1.30 to $1.10 (15%); and
  • the ACC levy on most motor vehicles will also fall slightly from $132.20 to $128.45 (down 3%).

More Funding for Women's Refuge

Women's Refuge is to get a 25% increase in funding this financial year. The funding comes from a number of sources:

  • an additional $492,000 from government;
  • Community Housing providing rent relief for the 51 refuges throughout NZ worth $360,000 annually; and
  • ACC providing funding of $1 million over 3 years.

Last financial year, Women's Refuge's audited costs were $4.5 million (GST exclusive). Child, Youth and Family met $3.7 million of those costs and other government agencies contributed further funds leaving a shortfall of $700,000 which it was able to raise itself. The accounts show that it more than made up the shortfall last year and recorded a $100,000 net operating surplus.

This year, Child, Youth and Family has offered a total of $3.789 million to cover the cost of services already provided by Women's Refuge. In addition, the Department is also offering $403,000 for new services.

Fire Service Levy Increase

The rate of Fire Service levy will be increased from 1 March 2001 from its present rate of 6.2 cents per $100 of insured value to 7.3 cents. For householders this means a maximum rise of $11 annually, due to a cap of $100,000 on the maximum value assessed for house insurance. For motor vehicle owners there is a flat rate annual charge, and this will increase from $4.96 to $5.84, an increase of 88 cents.

Another Shellfish Ban

The gathering of shellfish has been banned on the West Coast of the South Island, an area previously not affected by toxic algae. The West Coast shellfish ban extends from Karamea to Greymouth and involves a different type of toxic algae to the one that has shutdown shellfish gathering around much of the North Island.

Health officials said the toxic algae on the West Coast caused a different illness, known as Neuro Shellfish poisoning, or NSP, as opposed to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, or PSP, which is caused by the North Island algal bloom. Meanwhile, a record level of the PSP producing algae has been found on the Northland coast near Dargaville.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Computers In Homes Exceeding Expectations

A project to put computers into lower socio-economic homes has produced unexpected results, according to people monitoring the programme. Apparently, not only have children benefited, but the computers have impacted on the rest of the family. Some parents have got jobs or gained promotions because of their new computer skills and through the Internet they have become more involved with the school and community. The project will be extended to two schools in Whakatane next year.

With help from sponsors, Wellington's 20-20 Trust put recycled computers into 50 homes in Porirua, north of Wellington, and Panmure, in Auckland. Victoria University's School of Education has been evaluating the project since it started in August.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Rescue Record

The WestpacTrust rescue helicopter and Life Flight Air Ambulance rescued or transported 975 people during 1001 missions last year, topping the 1000 mark for the first time. There were 702 missions in 1999 and 615 in 1998.

Thanks to 'Dominion'

Men Dominate Drowning Figures

Kiwi men are nine times more likely to die by drowning than Kiwi women, according to figures released by Water Safety NZ. The organisation's provisional annual figures show that all but 18 of the 135 people who drowned last year were male (the "bravado attitude" of males is largely blamed). Rivers claimed almost a third of all drowning victims, with the open sea and then beaches the next most deadly places. Eight people drowned in canoeing or rowing craft incidents.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

The Boat Toll

Boating accidents are on the increase - doubling over the past year - and alcohol is a major contributing factor. In post-mortems nearly half the victims of fatal boating accidents in NZ tested positive for blood alcohol, and over a quarter were too drunk to have driven legally on our roads.

2000 - Not so Disastrous

Major natural disasters killed 17,000 people last year and caused $80 billion in damage but the figures are way down on those for 1999. The world's second largest insurer, Swiss Re, said there were 105,000 deaths from major disasters in 1999, costing close to $220 billion.

Floods in Asia and Western Europe were among the natural disasters in 2000. Man-made disasters killed 9,000 last year with two-thirds of those deaths caused by road, air and marine accidents.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Parentline Lives On

The free legal information service which gives advice on children's rights at school has got continuing funding. Parentline can still be contacted on 0800 PLINFO (0800 499 488). Callers are asked to leave a message summarising the information needed or the situation causing the problems, and are called back by an appropriate person. Calls are cleared several times a day.

Student Loan Statistics

As of June 2000:

  • almost 275,000 NZers held student loan accounts, compared to 247, 368 at the same time in 1999;
  • the average student loan debt reached $12,413 (it was $3,864 in 1993);
  • over 80% of borrowers have debts under $20,000, 37% had debts under $6,000, and 10% of borrowers have debts over $30,000;
  • by June 2000 IRD had collected $851.7 million back from account holders over the years since the scheme began (up until 1999 it had collected $602 million);
  • as well as $715 million in loans advanced to students in the 1999-2000 financial year, $1262 million was spent on tuition subsidies and $376 million on student allowances; and
  • by 2015, student loans are expected to reach $15.5 billion (this year's debt is expected to reach $4 billion).
Thanks to 'NZ Education Review'

Student Loan Repayments Threshold

The income level at which borrowers must start to repay student loans will rise from $14,768 to $15,132 from April. The repayment threshold sets the income level at which student loan repayments begin. Borrowers are required to pay towards their loan 10 cents in the dollar on income exceeding the threshold. The threshold is reviewed each year.

Mean Rankings - Maths and Science

Overall, NZ's performance in the repeat Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) showed NZ still sitting on the international means for maths achievement and just above it for science.

The study tested the science and maths knowledge of about 4500 third formers (year 9) students and compared them with their international counterparts in 37 other countries, during a repeat of the initial 1994 TIMSS.

Other findings include:

  • the top nations were again Singapore, Japan and Taiwan;
  • NZ's achievement levels were similar to those of students from Latvia, Bulgaria and the US;
  • NZ students rank 6th in the home educational resources available to children, with 18% of the students tested living in homes with more than 100 books, three education aids at home - including a computer, and at least one parent with a university education;
  • NZ children were far less likely to do homework with the international mean showing 38% of students did 3 hours a day compared to 17% of NZ kids and 65% of Malaysian children (our homework levels were very close to those of Australia).
Thanks to 'NZ Education Review'

New English Language Support for Pacific Students

The Government recently announced initiatives to improve learning opportunities for Pacific students who speak English as a second language. An extra $6.3 million, over 4 years, would be spent on Pacific ESOL education and professional development. This funding will provide for between 40 and 50 whole school professional development programmes and allow up to 75 teachers a year for the next three years to receive training towards qualifications in teaching English as a second language.

Minister Declines Massey/ACE Merger

The Education Minister has declined the proposed merger between Massey University and Auckland College of Education. Under the Education Act 1989, the Councils of two institutions can agree to merge and then apply to the Minister for approval of the merger.

GM Commission Consultation

The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification will be consulting specifically with NZ youth at a 1-day forum at Te Papa in Wellington on 5 March 2001. Also, the Commission will pay for 20 youth, aged 16 to 18, to travel to Wellington to attend the forum. Selection will be based on responses to a short essay competition.

Registration forms and competition entries must be received by Monday, 12 February 2001. Details about the competition can be obtained by contacting the Commission office at PO Box 3554, Wellington, tel (04) 495 9151, fax (04) 495 9153, email info@gmcommission.govt.nz , or its website www.gmcommission.govt.nz

Prisoner Census Results

Results of the latest 2-yearly census of prisoners included:

  • three out of five prisoners had been in prison before;
  • about half of the male inmates are younger than 30 while women are more evenly spread between the ages of 17 and 50;
  • almost two out of five of all inmates are jailed for robbery charges;
  • proportionally more women than men are sentenced for homicides, but fewer for serious and grievous assaults;
  • about three-quarters of inmates left school with no qualifications, and about a half of them never got any other qualifications later;
  • however, about half of the inmates are enrolled in personal development or substance abuse programs; and
  • before being jailed, three quarters of the women and almost half the men were on benefits.
Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Panel to Investigate Workplace Cancer

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) service is setting up a panel early next year to look at the possible links between occupations and cancer rates. Once a link between specific types of cancer and certain occupations has been established, preventative work could be done to lower the incidence of occupational cancer. The study would take about 2 years to complete.

The need for research into occupational cancers arose from a health taskforce set up by OSH in 1996, but privacy issues surrounding access to the national cancer registry meant it has only now received approval.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Compliance Cost Panel

Members of the new Ministerial Panel on Business Compliance Costs have been announced, and the Panel has started its work. The Panel will advise government on ways to reduce compliance costs to business arising from existing central and local government regulations (this doesn't include tax legislation which has its own separate review programme). It will report to government by 30 June 2001.

The members of the Panel are: Alan Dunn (Chair), John Albertson, Andrew Fox, Chye Heng, David Hoskin, Claire Johnston, Peter Mony, Clare Nolan, Vaughan Renner, Jerry Rickman, and Helen Samujh.

Other already announced schemes to reduce business cost compliance include:

  • establishing test panels, made up largely of business people, who will look at the likely compliance costs and assess the workability of new regulations before they are put into place;
  • introducing a requirement that each new legislative or regulatory proposal be accompanied by a Business Compliance Cost Statement, and that these Statements be made public; and
  • reviewing the progress that has been made in actioning the recommendations of the Commerce Select Committee's 1998 Inquiry into Compliance Costs for Business.

Rat Numbers Big Worry

The Conservation Department fears that a 30-fold rise in rat numbers around Lake Wakatipu will devastate the native bird population. The mohua or yellowhead, which is restricted to the South Island and the orange fronted parakeet, are especially threatened.

As a result of two mild winters in a row beech trees have produced vast quantities of seed, and the subsequent food glut has helped rats, mice and stoats to flourish. But the Conservation Department said that as the availability of beech seed began to drop the rats would switch to eating eggs and native birds. This meant there was real concern for the mohua and the orange fronted parakeet as they were hole nesting birds and therefore easy prey for hungry rats.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Modern Apprenticeships Update

Industries that were the first to offer Modern Apprenticeships when it is launched on 1 January were: boating, building and construction, dairy manufacturing, electricity/electrical; engineering, hospitality, printing, and telecommunications. With these industries, plus the pilot schemes that have been operating since July last year, around 1,300 to 1,500 young people (16 to 21 year-olds) will be in Modern Apprenticeships by July 2001.

Knowledge of MMP Falls

The latest research of the Electoral Commission shows the public's understanding of the MMP system has declined since the 1999 election. Similar declines occurred in the year after the 1996 election. The research showed that females, youth, Maori and Pacific Island people continue to have lower levels of knowledge of MMP than other demographic groups. The Commission has started planning for a public education programme on MMP ahead of the next election in 2002.

NZers Holiday at Home

An AC Nielson tourism survey has revealed most NZers are choosing their own country as a tourist destination rather than heading overseas. The survey showed 67% of those asked preferred holidays in NZ. Almost two thirds said they would be holidaying in NZ in the next year compared to a third who intended to travel overseas. This result was partly due to the lower Kiwi dollar and, according to the tourist industry, that domestic tourists were also noticing that there was more quality tourist attractions in NZ.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Sealord Deal Approved

The Government has approved the Japanese company, Nissui's proposed buy into Sealord, NZ's biggest fishing company. Nissui and the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission (Te Ohu Kai Moana) reached a deal in December to buy Brierley's 5% share in Sealord for $207 million; and they had been waiting for approval from the Finance and Fisheries Ministers.

Sealord holds about 23% of the total NZ fishing quota. Under the proposed deal, the Commission (TOKM), already a half-owner of Sealord, would hold all quota, which would be leased to a joint operation owned 50/50 by the Commission and Nissui.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Agreement with Saudi Arabia

A Trade and Technical Co-operation Agreement was recently signed with Saudi Arabia. The Agreement calls for expansion of trade and encourages scientific and technical co-operation. It also sets up a structure for government and private sectors to meet regularly to discuss issues concerning both countries, and to find ways to build the trade and economic relationship further.

Saudi Arabia is NZ's biggest export market in the Middle East and is the largest economy in the Gulf. Annual two-way trade between the two countries runs at nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars (NZ). Last year NZ sent $207 million of exports to the Kingdom. NZ recently introduced a visa waiver agreement which aims to assist tourism, investment and trade. There are joint ventures both in NZ and Saudi Arabia, and this year saw the first batch of Saudi students coming to NZ for education.

WTO Ruling - South

Australia the US and NZ (as a third party) have won an important case before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over South Korean restrictions on imported beef. The WTO appellate body confirmed that the restrictions imposed by South Korea on the importation, distribution, and sale of imported beef were inconsistent with WTO rules. South Korea had appealed against a number of findings in the original panel report.

In the WTO a dispute is heard by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). When, as usually happens, a DSB decision is appealed, those appeals are heard by the appellate body. The people who made up the original DSB in a particular case usually hear any appeals as well.

Chile Confirms Tariffs

Chile has decided to impose a duty of 12% on imports of liquid UHT and powdered milk. The new duty replaces a provisional measure of 16% imposed in July last year while Chile conducted an investigation into the effect of milk imports on their domestic dairy industry. The increase will be in place for one year, and will take the total tariff on NZ milk exports to Chile to 21%. NZ's exports to Chile in the year to June 2000 totalled $NZ58 million, of which milk products made up $NZ12.6 million. Exports of other dairy products totalled another $NZ20 million.

Computer Sales Growing

NZ total computer sales, which included business purchases, had risen from 301,849 in 1999 to around 332,700. That figure was expected to increase to about 412,000 in 2004. Consumer sales rose from 89,384 in 1999 to about 114,700 in 2000.

It seems the Internet is driving a lot of that demand. In 1999, 34% of households owned a PC. That figure was expected to rise to 37.3% for the year 2000. Price wars were also fuelling demand, according to industry sources. These sources also say that vendors were being more consumer-friendly by honing hardware to the average consumer's needs, and companies like Apple were revolutionising the way PCs look.

Thanks to 'Dominion'

Green Light For NZ Reds

It's good news for red wine drinkers and even better for the NZ wine industry: NZ's reds are right up there in the good-for-your-health stakes, according to the results of research carried out on Waiheke reds. Worldwide research has long suggested that the antioxidants occurring naturally in red wine make a positive contribution to good health, and new research has revealed some unique advantages for NZ wines. Apparently, NZ's temperate climate gives grapes more time to develop colour, flavour and the all-important antioxidants.

Vehicle Registrations - 2000

Vehicle registrations in 2000 were down over 7% from 1999 (245,901 down from 264,580) according to Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) statistics. Toyota had the most new car registrations in 2000 with 9,116 (15.8% of market share), Ford came second (8,324, 14.5 %), and Holden came third (8,135, 14.1%). Toyota also held market share leadership for new commercial vehicle registrations with 3,930 (24% of market share).

The most popular new car registered last year was the Holden Commodore, with 4,941 registrations processed.

NZ's Vehicle Fleet - by Type and Numbers
Cars 2,228,862
Trucks 428,053
Buses 13,731
Trailers 448,708
Motorcycles 78,924
Other (e.g., tractors, agricultural machinery, etc) 55,172
Total Vehicle Fleet

3,253,450

Colour Change Protects Bees

Pheromone traps are an important biocontrol tool. Used to monitor insect pest levels in orchards they can help to reduce spraying by about 50%. But there is a catch - the wrong catch. Bees were being killed too, until now.

Researchers worked out which colours attract bees. They found that catches of native and introduced bees are much lower in red and green traps than in the standard white traps. Standard white moth pheromone traps can now be replaced with coloured traps with less bee appeal.

More information from Graeme Clare, HortResearch, Mt Albert Research Centre, Private Bag 92 169, Auckland, tel (09) 815 8892 ext 7192, fax (09) 815 4219, or email gclare@hortresearch.co.nz

Taxi Condom Scheme

Timaru's Crown Public Health has decided to continue its programme of putting free condoms in taxis, after what it called an overwhelming response when it was trialed in July for 6 weeks. It's possible the scheme may be tried in other areas around NZ. The idea of putting condoms in taxis came about because of the strong link between drug and alcohol use and unsafe sexual practices.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

NZ-Made Film Wins Prize

An animated film for children which was produced in NZ for England's Channel Four has won a major European television prize. 'The Ring', a half-hour stop-frame puppet animation of Wagner's Ring Cycle has won the coveted Prix de Basle special jury award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to European Culture in Television. NZ viewers may get to see the film if local channels choose to buy it.

Registering Jet Skis

In an effort to make jet ski riders be more responsible, the Auckland Regional Council has made registration of jet skis compulsory. From 1 January all jet skis needed to be registered but owners will have 6 months grace before they are penalised for not having a registration sticker on their craft. It is hard to tell who is actually on a jet ski on the water, but having a registration number means the council can contact the owner if a driver is behaving dangerously.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Early Maori Writing

A school writing slate dating from the 1820s, with writing in Maori on it, has been unearthed from under the Kerikeri Mission House pantry. The pantry was built in the 1830's on the site of one of the first schools where missionaries taught Maori to read and write in their own language. This is one of the earliest examples of written Maori known.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

Quarantine Ends for NZ Pets

Britain has decided to end the 6-month quarantine period for cats and dogs from NZ. However, pets would have to be vaccinated against rabies, and then blood-tested to check the injections have worked. They also had to be treated for exotic ticks and other parasites, as well as fitted with identification microchips.

Thanks to 'NewsRoom'

NZ Hosting International Sporting Event

NZ is hosting the gruelling multi-sport event, the Eco-Challenge. Eco-Challenge 2001 will be a 400-450 km race over some of the most challenging terrain in the South Island. Seventy-five teams of four people will ride horses, run, climb, mountain-bike, pack raft and kayak the course. The winning team will take about 6 days to finish. NZ teams have won three of the seven Eco-Challenge races held. Millions of people world-wide will see the race on television.

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