Beehive Bulletin April 8 2005
Parliament voices sadness at death of the Pope
Parliament has expressed its deep sadness on the recent death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and express its sincere
condolences to the Holy See and to Roman Catholics in New Zealand and around the world. Prime Minister Helen Clark who
moved the motion says Pope John Paul II was a strong advocate for the great causes of our time - peace and disarmament,
human rights and democracy, and equality for all. The world was a better place for his life. He made a difference. Helen
Clark says she was privileged last year to meet the Pope personally at the Vatican and he spoke of his hope for peace in
the Middle East and his respect for New Zealand as a force for peace. The Governor-General, Dame Sylvia Cartwright, will
represent the people of New Zealand at the funeral in Rome.
Crown already owns the beaches
Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen has rubbished National's "policy statement" that it would reclaim the beaches for
all New Zealanders. There is nothing to be reclaimed. The Foreshore and Seabed Act states clearly that the Crown is the
full and beneficial owner of the public foreshore and seabed, says Michael Cullen. The Act also clearly provides that
the Maori Land Court must not make customary rights orders that restrict or have the effect of restricting public access
rights or rights of navigation. The Whakatohea claim before the Maori Land Court is at an early interlocutory stage
only. The Crown will take a vigorous stance before the Court in support of Parliament's intentions in the Act and will
appeal the judgement if necessary, says Michael Cullen. Most New Zealanders share the view that the legislation achieves
an appropriate balance between the rights of all New Zealanders to enjoy the coastline and Maori customary interests as
tangata whenua of this country.
Forestry industry gets $18.1m government investment
The government and key leaders in the forest industry met this week and agreed to accelerate their work together under a
new relationship to promote the development of the forest industry. Forestry Minister Jim Anderton says as part of the
government and the industry developing a strategic approach for the industry's future growth, the government will invest
$18.1m to, matched with $3.8 million from industry. This funding follows last week's announcement that Budget 2005 will
also include an investment of $2m over the next five financial years to help promote excellence in wood design in the
construction sector. Jim Anderton says forestry has long been a major export earner and employer in regions. It has the
potential to become even more important economically and socially, says the Progressive leader.
Targeting quality and relevance in tertiary education
Improving the quality and relevance of tertiary education is the focus of the new Statement of Tertiary Education
Priorities (STEP) that will guide funding of the sector in the future. Education Minister Trevor Mallard says every one
to three years the government releases a STEP under the Education Act. The STEP released this week sets out the
priorities for New Zealand's tertiary education system from now until December 2007. Trevor Mallard says in earlier
STEPs the focus was on building system capability; this STEP focuses on tertiary education provision that will help New
Zealanders become more innovative, more skilled, more productive and more prosperous. Low quality courses and providers
have no place in a publicly funded system, says Trevor Mallard. Funding will shift away from this sort of provision.
Prime Minister to visit Gallipoli
Prime Minister Helen Clark will attend the 90th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli on 25 April as part of a
range of visits. In Thailand, she will meet with Prime Minister Thaksin, and be present for the signing of the
Thailand/New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership. The Prime Minister will then visit Poland to open New Zealand's first
ever embassy there and meet Polish leaders. As the largest of the EU's new member states and the sixth largest EU
country, Poland will play an important role in the EU's future development. Helen Clark will then visit Krakow and lay a
wreath at the Commonwealth Cemetery and travel to the nearby Auschwitz/Birkenau concentration camps. In Turkey, Helen
Clark will attend two days of commemorative services at Gallipoli and make official calls in Ankara. In Berlin Helen
Clark will meet German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.
Bill tackles sexual grooming of children
Paedophiles who groom children for sexual activity will face up to seven years' imprisonment under an amendment to a
Bill currently before Parliament, Justice Minister Phil Goff says a new offence of sexual grooming will be added to the
Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) when Parliament debates the Bill's committee stage within the next few weeks. The sexual
grooming amendment further extends the protection of young people from sexual predators by covering situations where a
person contacts or arranges to meet a child, with the intention of having sexual activity, whether or not the intended
abuse occurs. New technology such as the Internet and cellphones had made it easier for sex offenders to groom their
intended victims. The new grooming offence will allow authorities to intervene and deal with those who sexually offend
against children before a further victim is created.
Aquaculture set to grow
The New Zealand aquaculture industry now has a sound platform for future growth, says Fisheries Minister David
Benson-Pope. He told a meeting of industry leaders that aquaculture was entering a new era. The passing of the
aquaculture legislation last year brought a close to a long and difficult process of reform, says David Benson-Pope.
Government had listened to industry concerns and worked hard to address the major issues. The environment for
aquaculture development was now more certain and predictable, and the stage set for a period of growth and development
in the sector. Aquaculture will generate new jobs in regional coastal areas, says David Benson-Pope.
ENDS