Beehive Bulletin 12 May 2006
Budget boost for the environment, . . .
Government ministers this week announced significant Budget 2006 funding for a package of initiatives aimed at boosting
biosecurity, enhancing biodiversity and cleaning up the environment. Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton said the
Labour-Progressive government is investing an extra $20 million for major biosecurity response preparedness and $13.2
million for pest management and invasive ant species surveillance, over the next four years.
Research, Science and Technology Minister Steve Maharey and Environment Minister David Benson-Pope jointly announced
$20.5 million to clean up contaminated sites ($4.5m over three years), and fund new research to enhance biodiversity and
protect biosecurity ($16m over four years). The ministers said that protecting and enhancing the environment were vital
to transforming the economy and preserving New Zealand's way of life.
. . . for heritage sites . . .
In another pre-Budget announcement, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark said New
Zealand's ability to protect and preserve its heritage sites is to be strengthened significantly.
The government is allocating $12.8 million of additional operating funding to the Historic Places Trust over the next
four years, and an additional $600,000 in this 05/06 financial year in supplementary funding. The Trust's baseline
operational funding rises from the current $7.153 million to $9.9 million in 2006/07 and to $10.5 million in 2007/08 and
subsequent years.
The Trust will also receive new capital funding of $3.2 million during the period 2005/06 to 2007/08 to support its
capital plan, such as refurbishing its heritage buildings.
Helen Clark said this was a very significant funding increase for the Historic Places Trust with a 2007/08 operational
budget 47 per cent higher than now. The additional funding will help build capability and capacity within the
organisation, better equippin
. . . and, preventing family violence.
A twenty per cent increase in government funding will see $9 million invested in family violence prevention services as
a key part of the government's commitment to strong families. Child Youth and Family Services Minister Ruth Dyson said
the money, spread over four years, will go towards non-government community service providers such as 24-hour crisis
lines, counselling, social work support, safe-house accommodation, advocacy and information. The extra money is one of
the Labour-led government's responses to increasing demands on organisations which provide crisis response to family
violence, the Minister said. It is the first funding increase for the sector in more than a decade.
New law extends Paid Parental Leave
Self-employed parents will be eligible for 14 weeks paid parental leave from 1 July this year, under new legislation
passed by Parliament this week. Labour Minister Ruth Dyson said the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Paid
Parental Leave for Self-Employed Persons) Amendment Act brings greater flexibility and equity to the workplace and
additional support for working parents.
The new law extends paid parental leave to a range of self-employed people including farming families - it was
previously available only to employees. Women's Affairs Minister Lianne Dalziel, who is also Minister for Small
Business, said the decision would be welcomed by over 2000 self-employed women or their partners who are expected to
benefit from the new Act each year. Like employees, self-employed women will be able to transfer part or all of their
paid parental leave to eligible partners. The scheme currently pays up to $357.30 a week.
Graphic warnings on smoking
Images of rotting gums and teeth, throat cancer and gangrenous feet may be used on cigarette packets to warn against the
health risks associated with smoking. Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor this week unveiled a discussion document
with the proposal.
The pictorial warnings are designed to inform people of the risks of smoking and minimise the uptake by young people.
Canada, Australia, Brazil and Thailand already have pictorial warnings on cigarette packets and many other countries are
considering it. In Canada, the smoking rate dropped from 22 per cent to 20 per cent between 2001 and 2005. The use of
pictorial warnings played a large part in that remarkable drop and it is time to introduce the concept to New Zealand,
Mr O'Connor said. In New Zealand, 24 per cent of people smoke with 19 per cent in Australia. As a party to the World
Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, New Zealand is obliged to increase the size of health
warnings within the next few years. The Health M
Can you save on fuel?
A new internet site giving New Zealand drivers up-to-date information on vehicle fuel consumption was unveiled by
Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven at Parliament this week. Fuelsaver will help people make informed choices
about the fuel efficiency and running costs of their vehicle or one they are thinking about buying. The website
provides: a 'cost calculator' to estimate the fuel running cost of a vehicle and comparable vehicles; a function to
compare fuel running costs vehicle to vehicle; and information and advice on fuel-saving driving techniques. Visit
online www.fuelsaver.govt.nz.
ENDS