Beehive Bulletin - 21 November 2003
Maori fisheries allocation before Parliament
Legislation giving effect to the agreed model for allocating Maori fisheries settlement assets was introduced to
Parliament this week. Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson says the bill is a cause for celebration after more than 10 years
of debate amongst Maori. Its passage will enable the beneficiaries of the 1992 Fisheries Settlement to receive more than
$700 million in assets and use them for the economic and social benefit of all Maori. About half of the settlement
assets will be allocated directly to iwi with the balance centrally managed. Two specialist trusts will be created to
promote education and training for Maori and to advance Maori freshwater fishing interests. More than 90 percent of iwi
agreed this allocation model should be presented to government, says Pete Hodgson.
Two big Auckland roading projects underway
The start of two new major roading projects this week shows Auckland continues to get much-needed attention on its
infrastructure under the Labour Progressive Government. Auckland Issues Minister and Associate Transport Minister Judith
Tizard helped turn the first sod for Stage 2 of the Central Motorway Junction, and attended the iwi blessing of the
Greenhithe section of the Upper Harbour Corridor. Stage 2 of Spaghetti Junction, as Aucklanders know it, is the biggest
roading construction contract in Auckland. The Greenhithe project is a critical part of the Western Ring Route.
Completing these links is part of this government's commitment to providing a reliable motorway system for Auckland,
says Judith Tizard.
Research on lifting student achievement boosted
A significant step in the government's strategy of boosting student achievement through quality teaching has been
announced. Education Minister Trevor Mallard says 13 ground-breaking research projects selected from 180 expressions of
interest will be undertaken in partnerships between education researchers and teachers around the country. The aim is to
find out what works in lifting student achievement, and then to apply it in the early childhood, school and tertiary
sectors. The New Zealand Council of Educational Research has been contracted to manage the programme on behalf of the
Ministry of Education. A $1 million annual fund is available for this research a second year of funding in May 2004.
Public broadcasting debate urged
The importance of public service broadcasting in developing New Zealand's national identity has been reasserted by the
government. Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey told a meeting of broadcasters in Wellington that the principles of
public service broadcasting have been revitalised and placed at the heart of the government's broadcasting agenda.
Public service broadcasting was not about producing a haven of nostalgia or 'worthy but dull' programming. Steve Maharey
says to get the mix right it's important to have a lively national conversation about how New Zealanders want to see
themselves and their aspirations explored and portrayed.
Second Taranaki iwi settlement completed
The Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill has been passed by Parliament. Treaty Negotiations Minister Margaret Wilson says
marks the settlement of long-held historical grievances in Taranaki and the beginning of a new era of progress.
Representatives of Ngati Tama were in the House to witness the passage of the Bill. Margaret Wilson encouraged all New
Zealanders to read the iwi's history, which she says makes clear why New Zealand must persevere with treaty settlements.
This is the second of eight Taranaki settlements. A Deed of Settlement, involving financial redress of $14.5 million for
Ngati Tama, and recognising and protecting sites particularly significant to the iwi, was signed in December 2001.
More young New Zealanders able to travel and work abroad
The international popularity of New Zealand's Working Holiday Scheme is to see an increase in the number of places made
available. Foreign Minister Phil Goff announced an extra 6000 places will be added next year to New Zealand's current
limit of 25,000, with further increases possible in following years. The Working Holiday Scheme allows people from 16
countries who are aged between 18 and 30 to work in New Zealand for up to a year. The additional places will include an
extra 1000 young people from the United Kingdom, 700 from Ireland, 1200 from Canada and 1000 from Germany. Under the
reciprocal agreements involved, equal additional numbers of young New Zealanders can work overseas for up to a year in
these and other partner countries.