Prime Minister launches biofuels for NZ

The Prime Minister Helen Clark poured the first bioethanol-blended petrol this week in Auckland, as Gull New Zealand launched the first commercially available biofuel for New Zealand motorists.
 
"I congratulate Gull on being the first oil company to make this move, well before the Biofuels Sales Obligation starts next year," Helen Clark said.
"Gull's new fuel provides motorists with real choice, helps New Zealand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and takes New Zealand a step further towards achieving sustainability."

Climate change minister David Parker said the Biofuels Sales Obligation the Labour-led government announced in February this year will require biofuels to make up 3.4 percent of fuel companies' sales by the year 2012. The obligation is due to commence in April 2008.
 
"Introducing biofuels to New Zealand will reduce overall emissions of carbon dioxide from New Zealand vehicles and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than a million tonnes between 2008 and 2012," David Parker said.

Health sector response to violence

Health sector professionals are often the first people who can get help for those suffering family violence or abuse, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said Wednesday.

"The inside of a health clinic is often the only safe place in some New Zealanders’ lives. While we can help nurses, doctors and other staff with additional training and resources to recognise abuse, they alone can not stop abuse. Every person, every government agency, each community and every politician must join together to stop violence and act when they know of abuse," Pete Hodgson says.

He made his remarks during the Parliamentary launch of the Ministry of Health Violence Intervention Programme – the health sector response to violence.

The event’s 200 participants included health professionals, judges, child advocates, non-government agencies and community members who are working to end family violence.Budget 2007 set aside $11.2 million to help the health sector in its response and to continue work within the umbrella term ‘Violence Intervention Programme’ to:
· ensure that victims of violence using health services receive the support they require, and
· ensure that staff are trained and competent to screen health service users who may be victims of child and partner abuse.
You can watch a short video of the event here.

Auckland governance report is positive first step

The Labour-led Government has endorsed the Final Report of the Strengthening Auckland's Regional Governance Project as a positive first step for strengthening Auckland’s regional governance, Minister of Local Government Mark Burton said Monday.

The Government also announced that it will establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland. The Commission will examine and report on what local and regional governance arrangements are required for the Auckland region over the foreseeable future. The Commission provides the opportunity for a broader and independent assessment of what is needed to achieve Auckland’s potential to be a truly internationally competitive place to live, work and do business.

"Ensuring Auckland’s future as an internationally competitive city and region is key to this Government's high priority of transforming New Zealand into an economically successful and sustainable nation," Mark Burton said.

"Through the Auckland Regional Project Report, Auckland councils have indicated there is sufficient agreement on the following steps to contribute to stronger regional leadership that is key to Auckland’s success."

Embrace of te reo Mâori a sign of a maturing nation

New Zealanders’ increasingly warm embrace of, and desire to support, our indigenous language is a welcome sign of the maturing of our nation, Mâori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said this week.
 
Mâori became an official language of Aotearoa 20 years ago Wednesday and Mr Horomia said it was heartening to see the continued growth in the use of te reo and the mounting recognition of the important role it played in our emerging sense of national identity.
 
“It is also important, when marking the passing of the Mâori Language Act 1987, to acknowledge those visionaries who fought for the recognition and survival of the reo: in the courts, our homes and within the spheres of education and broadcasting. Every individual who makes an effort to familiarise him or herself with the language must also be acknowledged as it is these personal commitments – the small as well as the large – that will safeguard this taonga.”

"Survey results which I released during Te Wiki o Te Reo Mâori (Mâori Language Week) revealed a marked increase in the proficiency levels of Mâori able to speak te reo, with a total of 52 per cent of all Mâori able to speak more than a few words or phrases."