Beehive Bulletin For Week Ending Friday 07 March 2002
Also Available On-Line http://www.labour.org.nz
Government gives early backing to Team New Zealand
The Government is giving an initial $5.625 million as part of a new marketing agreement with Team New Zealand for the
2007 America's Cup in Europe. Minister for the America's Cup Trevor Mallard said the new funding would allow Team New
Zealand to start re-signing key team members. Without it, the human capital and intellectual property built up by Team
New Zealand could disperse, putting at serious risk New Zealand's ongoing participation in the America's Cup. Trevor
Mallard said the Government is confident that the next America's Cup will allow New Zealand the chance to expand the
trade and tourism opportunities created over the last eight years. The final level of the Government's investment will
be small compared to the expected cost of mounting a credible challenge in 2007 but provided Team New Zealand with some
early financial certainty, Trevor Mallard said.
Changes to assist sole parents
Work and Income will do more to help sole parents into work with changes to legislation that come into effect this
month, said Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey. The Social Security (Personal Development and
Employment) Amendment Act abolishes the arbitrary work test on sole parents receiving the Domestic Purposes or Widows
Benefits. Currently 21,924 people are subjected to a work test requirement to seek part or full-time work because of the
age of their youngest child. All people receiving the DPB, Widows or Emergency Maintenance Allowance will now be
required to work with their case manager to develop and implement a Personal Development and Employment Plan. The
Government is committed to supporting and working with sole parents to identify barriers to employment and opportunities
to improve their circumstances for themselves and their families, said Steve Maharey.
Tougher child porn penalties
The government has signaled its intention to significantly increase penalties for child pornography offences. Justice
Minister Phil Goff will introduce a bill later this year increasing the maximum penalties to 10 years jail for producing
and trading in child pornography, and two years jail for possessing child pornography. The current maximum penalties are
one year's jail and a $2000 fine. Phil Goff said these penalties are clearly inadequate and fail to acknowledge that the
production of child pornography involves the actual abuse of children. Traders and possessors of child pornography had
an indirect responsibility. It was not uncommon for New Zealanders trading in child pornography over the Internet to
have thousands of images in their possession. The new penalties would bring New Zealand into line with the United
Kingdom and Canada, said Phil Goff.
Taskforce on secondary teachers' pay meets
A Ministerial Taskforce on Secondary Teacher Remuneration met for first time this week. Education Minister Trevor
Mallard said the Taskforce's main objective is to ensure a supply of high quality, appropriately qualified secondary
teachers in state and integrated schools who will improve the learning outcomes of all students. The Taskforce will
develop a strategic longer-term perspective on the issues facing the teacher sector over the next decade. More
specifically it will report how the government can address wage paths and the impact on remuneration of workload,
teacher supply and demand, curriculum delivery, qualifications and other directly related issues. The Taskforce, chaired
by Dame Margaret Bazley, is expected to report to Trevor Mallard by 31 October.
Racing Act passes the post
Legislation passed in Parliament this week will see the TAB merged with the Racing Industry Board. Associate Racing
Minister Damien O'Connor said the Racing Act 2003 was an industry-driven initiative, which simplified the governance of
racing by merging the two organizations. The Board would be responsible for administering racing and also for providing
racing and sports betting services. It would promote the racing industry and aim to maximise its profits for the
long-term benefit of New Zealand racing. Damien O'Connor said the government was pleased to fulfill its promise to the
racing industry by delivering changes which would help move the industry forward and give it the impetus to successfully
tackle future challenges.