Latest speeches from beehive.govt.nz

ACI NZ Finance Sector Forum

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:05:13 +1200

Martin Tolar, thank you for the opportunity to address your conference this morning. In the programme it is stated that “in the current environment of regulatory reform, New Zealand's finance sector faces the challenge to be fully prepared for change. Understanding regulatory impact is key for compliance professionals who have the added responsibility of implementing necessary initiatives within their organisations and to manage the impact over the longer term.”

This is vitally important and with the major changes that have and are being introduced you could be excused for feeling that the pace of change in terms of regulatory reform particularly over the past eight and a half years has been very fast - but for each one of you sitting on the compliance side there are dozens of investors who believe that the rate of change has not been fast enough; they feel that they have been sidelined by the broader focus the government has taken in terms of strengthening the regulatory frameworks around our capital markets and left them exposed to the finance company sector in particular.

I'd like to put that in context, because it is relevant to what you do.

I made a comment in a speech yesterday that a consumer group called Exposing Unacceptable Financial Activities has accused me of being insensitive to the plight of those who made investment decisions and have lost some or all of their life savings; or have some or all of their life savings in frozen funds; or who have taken out a mortgage on their otherwise freehold home to invest in a speculative venture that they didn’t know was speculative.

They have accused me of describing such people as greedy, stupid and naïve. I have never described these investors as greedy or stupid. Of course I have said they were naïve - how else would you describe someone who does not fully appreciate that a return on investment is based on risk; that there is no such thing as a safe bet; that people shouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket and that property values do not always increase, sometimes they drop.

In fact I have made the point that many people went out of their way to get advice they thought they could rely on. People tend to trust that someone else has done the homework for them – a former life insurance agent, who has him or herself invested in Blue Chip – well what could be the risk? One of the investors I spoke to told me how he had been pursued by a Blue Chip agent, who he knew, until he finally gave in.

Can I say that Blue Chip is different from the finance companies; not only were they not covered by the same trustee company supervisory arrangements, they also relied on people using their equity in their homes to invest in this property venture. They were told nothing could go wrong. I have consistently told those who took legal advice or who used a New Zealand registered bank for their mortgage that they must take advice from the Law Society and the Banking Ombudsman – there may be remedies there for the advice they received. I have also told EUFA this, but they appear to prefer to call on the government to "freeze everything", even though I have told them we cannot do that. So Blue Chip is different. But unfortunately because of the timing they all get tied up together and people do not discern a difference. This matters because when we are talking about people who are inexperienced in terms of investing, perception is reality.

Returning to the finance companies, most people I have come across did think they were taking sensible steps to ensure they got good advice, but even though they may have been told that their financial adviser was getting a commission, what use was that if they had no point of reference and didn’t know that it was much more than other products would provide.

People may not have appreciated how important it was that their adviser was a member of a professional body that could hold them accountable for breaching codes of standards and ethics. People may have thought that the investment was ‘safe as’ because the interest rate wasn’t much more than what the bank was offering. These people were not greedy and they were not stupid.

But they were too trusting. They did not appreciate that with any rate of return there was an element of risk and they did not understand what that risk was. Someone said recently that New Zealanders weren’t cynical enough and I think that could be right.

But at the same time, I don't think we should expect the advisers to be accountable for someone else's fraud, unless they have acted unprofessionally by turning a blind eye to a clearly under-priced product or accepted a high commission without analysing the offering in sufficient detail. And there were those that did that – happy to take a commission without doing the homework – and look where their clients are today.

Nor should we take our eye off the need to lift levels of financial literacy so that inexperienced investors understand the nature of the risks they are taking with their hard-earned money. Financial literacy has to be lifted in New Zealand or we are never going to have the depth to our capital markets that we need to achieve our ambitions.

You will recall the 1987 crash and the inexperienced investors who pulled their money out at the time – I feel as if history is repeating itself, where reinvestment rates have plummeted, placing at risk what would otherwise be sound businesses. Until we have confidence restored to this market we have lost an important element of our financial markets and although it isn’t large enough to trigger the attention of the Reserve Bank, it does mean that some developments may not be able to proceed because the finance isn’t there.

It’s been like a set of dominoes – one failure leads to the other – and it is only confidence that will see the rebuild occur.

As many of you will know the government has launched a financial literacy campaign led by the Retirement Commissioner, who has finalised a National Strategy for Financial Literacy. There are many public and private sector players in this important space from schools delivering on the curriculum - to the NZ Enterprise Trust taking business and financial literacy into our schools - to the Securities Commission teaching the basics of risk and return. This is vital work and must continue to receive top priority.

As I have said on many occasions, the regulatory frameworks that support business generally and the financial sector in particular, are part of the country’s essential infrastructure.

As you are aware the government is not simply reacting to the current pressures in the sector. The regulatory reforms that are currently before the House, and indeed the reforms that are still in the policy development stages are a result of work that was initiated back in 2005.

And this itself was the final stage in the broader reform of securities law that had to be undertaken when we became the government in 1999. The Takeovers Panel needed a Code to enforce. The regulation of our stock exchange had to meet IOSCO standards. The rules around insider trading, market manipulation and investment adviser disclosure requirements all had to be strengthened.

The Review of Financial Products and Providers encompassed a broad range of work, including work relating to financial advisers, non-bank deposit takers, compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, and insurance and securities law more generally.
We took a holistic approach to reviewing the sector so we could look at the various interdependencies that exist in the industry and develop proposals that accounted for these interconnections.

I believe that this has fundamentally improved our understanding of the sector and has enabled us to develop rules that are more suited to the realities of what is a complex financial environment.

Late last year, Dr Cullen and I introduced three pieces of legislation into the House; the Financial Advisers Bill, the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Bill and the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill (No 3).

The Financial Advisers Bill has been the most difficult Bill for the Finance & Expenditure Select Committee to deal with, largely because it has become obvious that the co-regulatory model involving industry-based Approved Professional Bodies cannot work in the current environment. As I said in a speech to the IFA recently, the level of mistrust simply could not sustain the co-regulatory model if we wanted to rebuild confidence.

Earlier this year, the Select Committee made an interim report to Parliament in order to release a discussion document, which proposed another model and on the 7th of August the Select Committee released a second interim report confirming that they will recommend that the Securities Commission undertake the regulatory role.

As I have said recently, I was concerned not to lose the strength of the co-regulatory model and that was the industry expertise that exists in the professional bodies. With government backing, the Select Committee has proposed the establishment of a Commissioner of Financial Advisers, who will have a statutory responsibility to engage with industry to develop a code of conduct and to establish an appropriate disciplinary body.

I am confident that this approach will ensure that we have the strength of central supervision, without losing the experience and knowledge of industry participants. The proposal suggests a two-tiered approach to imposing appropriate obligations on financial advisers, and allows for institutional certification to ensure that the regulation is effectively tailored to the risks associated with the level of financial advice given.

The first tier financial advisers will need to be individually authorised by the Securities Commission whether or not they are employed by a Certified Financial Institution, thereby creating a level playing field, allowing the public to know that if they are getting advice on complex securities or superannuation or investment planning they will be able to rely on the Securities Commission’s oversight. Regulation of financial advisers will help to assure the public about the services being offered to them.

The Select Committee has also been considering the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Bill. This Bill will allow for a complete register of all financial service providers to be developed and will enable negative assurance criteria to be placed on the controlling owners, directors, and senior mangers of financial service providers.

All financial service providers and financial advisers who provide a service to the public will be required to be a member of an approved dispute resolution scheme, which will provide investors with a simple low-cost avenue to seek redress.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill (No. 3), which has been reported back to the House, creates a new framework for non-bank deposit takers, which includes finance companies, to be administered by the Reserve Bank. The Bill establishes minimum prudential standards on NBDTs, including capital adequacy requirements and a credit rating from an approved credit rating agency.

We are also working on a reform of securities law more generally. The RFPP included a discussion document on Collective Investment Schemes, Supervision of Issuers and Securities Offerings. In light of the recent events in the sector, the Ministry is undertaking further policy work on the review of these three areas.

In conclusion, can I say that at the same time as undertaking this work we are looking forward with the establishment of the Capital Market Development Taskforce and pressing on with the Single Economic Market agenda to strengthen the processes for doing business on both sides of the Tasman.

This is the right time to be doing these things and we cannot take our eye off the ball because of the global financial environment. KiwiSaver, now with over 750,000 members, is proving a runaway success in encouraging savings. The Portfolio Investment Entity Regime is stimulating savings in financial assets and the Limited Partnership regime has already proved a successful vehicle for fundraising. Together with other aspects of the business tax package that have recently come into force, these changes significantly improve New Zealand’s outlook.

However as I have said, recent events have highlighted the complexity of financial products and services that are offered in the market today. The reform in the financial sector will increase transparency and ensure that providers are held accountable. But I want to reiterate how important it is that we address the levels of financial literacy in this country.

As I said at the outset, from your perspective, it may look as if we are proceeding at pace, but for others it isn't fast enough. I have always said that I believe that our response in any area of regulation must be proportionate - both in the policy and in the enforcement. The risk with not proceeding with financial sector reform is that we wait longer to rebuild the confidence we need to achieve our ambitions for New Zealand.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy your conference.

Safety, Leadership and Culture to 2020

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:48:28 +1200

Today I would like to touch on a number of issues and challenges facing both your industry and government, particularly focussing on the area of safety.

Although there are always dangers and risks in the use of electrical energy, there is no reason why these cannot be managed effectively to protect those working in the industry.

We all recognise that safe working practices and having a safety culture are critical.

The challenge for the electricity industry is to lead by example when it comes to safety.

Government also has a key role to play in terms of its leadership through the development of legislation and regulations to improve safety outcomes.

Within the Ministry of Economic Development, Energy Safety will continue to work with industry partners to promote energy safety within the gas and electricity industries, while also encouraging industry innovation.

The Department of Labour and the Electrical Workers’ Registration Board also have a role to play in improving safety performance in the electricity supply industry and reducing the number of worker accidents.

Improving safety performance is a partnership, between you, your staff and government.

An area where improvements need to be made is in addressing the accident rates in the electricity supply industry.

As you know, as Associate Minister of Energy, I have responsibility for energy safety.

I share your concerns about the number of accidents that occur in the electricity supply industry involving electrical workers, and more particularly. line workers.

While the overall number of accidents involving these workers has been declining over the last decade, I am concerned about the recent upward trend in fatal accidents.

We all recognise that the working environment for line workers and mechanics involves a high level of risk that is rarely seen in other work places. It is dangerous work.

Few jobs have people working in close proximity to high voltage lines or working at the heights line workers do. This is why we all agree that safety must be paramount.

Although there is a relatively low level of incidents, the consequences of accidents, in terms of death and serious harm, is high.

After a period of no fatal accidents in the early 2000s we have seen seven fatal accidents in the last four years. Let’s not forget the serious injury accidents that have also occurred during this recent period.

The challenge for the electricity supply industry and government is to reverse this trend.

There have been, and continue to be, a range of initiatives to raise overall awareness around safe practice for electrical works. It is clear, however, that more needs to be done.

A number of areas where improvements in safety can be made, have been identified, not only by yourselves, but also by Energy Safety, the Department of Labour and the Electrical Workers Registration Board.

I understand the EEA has identified that supervision is key to behavioural change and that you are working towards running safety workshops to address this issue.

However, while competency training and documentation generally appear to be comprehensive and adequate, the work practices and behaviour of some electrical workers in the workplace can be inadequate.

At times competent and experienced workers are failing to follow safe work practices.

Improved supervision and better safety auditing are required, both by employers, as the service providers, and electricity distributors as the network asset owners.

While having expressed concerns about the accident rates in the electricity supply industry, I do believe the general safety culture is reasonably good. But of course there is always room for improvement.

As leaders you have a responsibility, and a key role to play, in continuing to develop and improve the safety culture within the electricity supply industry. The EEA has identified that improving the safety culture within your industry is critical.

I am pleased the EEA is showing its commitment to improving safety performance in the electricity industry and that you are taking leadership and an innovative approach to dealing with safety issues. I congratulate you on the work you are doing.

You have already produced the draft Guide to Power Systems Earthing Practice, on which I understand you have recently completed consultation. I look forward to this being rolled out to the industry when it is finalised.

You have also developed a health and safety strategy - Electricity Supply Industry Workplace Safety Strategy 2020 - which will be the key focus for this workshop and contribute significantly to the discussions you will be having today.

I welcome this strategy and the initiative you are taking. It outlines your industry’s health and safety vision, aims and aspirations, extending to 2020.

The statement identifies key areas for actions to fulfil these aspirations. I am pleased to see the strategy is a living document that will be regularly reviewed.

It shows the EEA is taking action and is committed to improving safety, and sets out how you are going to achieve this over the next decade.

I am also pleased that you are taking an inclusive approach and welcoming comment or suggestions from industry, regulators and other stakeholders.

Looking to the future, government also has work ahead of it, in terms of developing and implementing the new electricity regulations.

I would like to take a few moments to give you an update on where things are at with the development of these regulations.

As you know last year the Ministry of Economic Development released two discussion papers on the proposed safety regulations for electricity and gas.

EEA has fully engaged in the process of the development of the electricity regulations. You have not only had input into areas that concern you directly, such as the development of the regulations relating to Safety Management Systems (SMS), but you have also provided valuable input into other aspects of the regulations.

I want to thank your industry for your input and the significant contribution you have made to the process so far.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that this week Cabinet approved the policy decisions on the electricity regulations.

The process from now is that drafting instructions will be prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development for the Parliamentary Counsel Office, who will then prepare the draft regulations. The aim is to have an ‘exposure draft’ available for discussion with industry and consumer representatives.

MED plans to consult with industry once the ‘exposure draft’ of the regulations is available, giving you the opportunity to provide further valuable input and comment. This is quite an unusual step at this stage of the process, and does not happen very often in New Zealand.

It is difficult to say how long this process will take. As you can imagine the proposed regulations are technically complex, so it could take some time at the drafting stage, and also this work needs to fit in with other priorities at the Parliamentary Counsel Office.

But, what I can say, is that we are on the home straight. It has been a long process since the development of Energy Safe to where we are now.

Of course, as is the case with all new regulations, there will be an implementation and transition period once they have been made. This will ensure that industry has the time to put things fully in place before the regulations come into effect.

Over the coming months MED will keep you informed on progress.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your industry’s hard work and dedication when endeavouring to restore electrical supply to many thousands of New Zealanders during the recent stormy weather.

This was a difficult time for all and the situations your staff faced while doing this work was challenging to say the least.

Following an incident to a line mechanic during the storms, it was timely and appropriate that a safety alert was sent out through the EEA to remind companies that safety of persons takes priority over restoration of supply.

I wish you well with your workshop.

Letterman: Joseph Churchward's World of Type Exhibition Blessing

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:51:07 +1200

Speech at the blessing ceremony for the Letterman: Joseph Churchward's World of Type Exhibition, Te Papa Museum, Wellington

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Kia orana, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all this morning.

It is an honour to be asked to attend and speak at the blessing ceremony for this exhibition of Joseph Churchward’s works.

I would like to acknowledge and honour Joseph Churchward – it is because of your inspirational work that we are all gathered here today for this very special occasion. I would also like to thank Te Papa for exhibited 'World of Type', and in particular Chief Executive Dr Seddon Bennington, Director of History and Pacific Cultures Dr Claudia Orange and our Pasifika Curator Sean Mallon.

Joseph Churchward and significance of his work
Generations of Pacific peoples, including our parents, have taken the journey to New Zealand. They have brought with them hopes and dreams of a rewarding life, for themselves and for their children. They have worked hard to build a new life here, step by step.

Joseph Churchward brought with him from Samoa an artistic flair and the confidence that, with hard work, he could use his talents to realise his dreams.

He is a man who, through a combination of his innate creative talents and early technical training, has enriched the world of lettering and design. He made his Pacific dream a reality when he set up his own business, which became such a success through his skills, initiative and determination.

Joseph has chosen his creative path wisely. His hand-lettered fonts have moved seamlessly through rapid technological changes - from the printed page of the 20th century when he started creating them, to the electronic media of the 21st.

Here at Te Papa, his lettering for the title font of the wonderful Tagata o le Moana exhibition is as outstanding on the screen as it is on the page. He also helped create the masthead for the Dominion Post newspaper.

The quality of his work is also reflected in his international reputation. Churchward fonts appear on many websites offering typefaces, and they’re on billboards, newspapers, and other printed media around the world. I have as an example the website of the Klingspor Museum, a museum of typography and calligraphy, in Germany w- hich lists Joseph Churchward amongst eminent typographic artists.

It’s clear that Joseph Churchward’s work speaks in an international language about his passion for graphic arts and lettering. That international language connects us all globally.

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and its role in supporting Pacific artists
Joseph Churchward is a great role model. Many emerging Pacific artists can draw inspiration from his success. He has created lasting works of art that also have functional value, and they live on in print and digital media.

One of the most visible of his designs, to Pacific peoples in particular, is the logo for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, which has been in use on letterheads, promotional materials and the website for over ten years.

Joseph Churchward’s contributions to this image, and his designs for a new Ministry symbol, were recognised earlier this year at a ceremony to honour the winner and runner-up in a competition for a new concept design for the Ministry.

Our Labour-led government recognises that creative artists like Joseph do much to express and define our cultural identity. We also know that Pacific art, music and languages have helped to shape New Zealand as a unique Pacific nation. Not only are they an illustration of Pacific culture and life, they are also a platform for the economic development of Pacific communities.

Through the Pacific Economic Action Plan we want to ensure that Pasifika creative arts are preserved and promoted, and encourage and support the development of our Pacific artists.

One of the strategies that will help meet this goal is the new “Pacific Starmap” website, which is being launched next week. This website has been developed as a tool to encourage and support emerging Pacific artists. Through this website Pacific performing and visual artists will find links to New Zealand resources, Pasifika role models and mentors through a one-stop web portal.

In whatever career we choose, we all need role models. We can learn so much from those who have already travelled the paths, and who can give encouragement and advice to next generations.

Significance of this exhibition and closing remarks
This exhibition at Te Papa is a wonderful tribute to Joseph Churchward’s contributions to the art of lettering design, to the world of typesetting, and to his ability to inspire others, in a creative career that has spanned over 50 years (and is unstoppable!!).

It offers visitors to Te Papa, especially those who share his passion for fine design, an opportunity to explore his works and understand his fascination for print and the creative arts that underpin it.

It is an opportunity to celebrate the “Letter Man’s” contributions, and to honour Joseph Churchward the man, who is clearly much-loved by his family and friends.

My warm congratulations and thanks to Joseph for his life and work achievements. My thanks to our hosts and all at Te Papa who have had a hand in planning and preparing this exhibition, especially Sean Mallon and Safua Akeli.

Thank you again for asking me to join you today. I wish you all the greatest success with Joseph Churchward’s World of Type exhibition.

Ia manuia and God Bless.

LIVE Hawke’s Bay (Domestic violence conference speech)

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:55:07 +1200

LIVE Hawke’s Bay

The sort of community initiative represented by this conference is one of the real ways New Zealand can tackle the evil of family violence within our society.

I feel privileged that you have asked me to join you today, and I want to say from the outset that I have nothing but admiration for your dedication and perseverance working in a an area that can often be grim and apparently thankless.

Wearing my hats as both Police Minister and Justice Minister, I want to thank you for your commitment to your community and the people within that community.

Everybody here shares a common goal and vision of a brighter future for our children and our families. This conference gives us the opportunity to discuss how to address family violence at a local level and to set in place a clear path for reducing and preventing family violence – in Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand as a whole.

On a recent visit to the United Kingdom I saw some shining examples --- notably at the Family Justice Centre in Croydon and the Leeds Inter-Agency Project --- of how a range of community and government agencies could work together in the area of family violence to bring about real and lasting improvements in their communities.

The collaboration in Hawke’s Bay between the Local Initiative for Violence Elimination Hawke’s Bay and Te Tumu Whakahaere o te Wero Kahungunu and the Ngati Kahungunu Violence Free Strategy are ALSO shining examples of what can be achieved when communities work together to solve community problems.

I also want to congratulate LIVE Hawke’s Bay on setting up this conference as an effective way to engage with the people on the ground and gain community feedback.

New Zealand saw an increase of 6200 violence offences in 2007. This increase was almost entirely related to family violence offences, (5,800 of the increased number of offences) which increased by 31.5 percent. The national statistics were reflected in Napier and Hastings, with increases in violent crime in 2007 of 14.5 percent and 17.2 percent respectively.

Stopping family violence and preventing the tragedies of child and partner deaths that New Zealanders have seen is an urgent priority for all of us. Family violence affects everyone, from all walks of life and all generations.

Having a strong legislative base is important and New Zealand has robust acts for all victims of family violence. The Domestic Violence Act 1995 recognises that all forms of domestic violence are unacceptable and ensures that there is effective legal protection for its victims. A significant tool in the Act is protection orders, which are granted in the Family Court.

I recently announced a range of proposals that have been approved by Cabinet to further strengthen the objectives and implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and to enhance the consistency between the Act and the Care of Children Act 2004. Key proposals will:

· Strengthen the role of the Police and their ability to enforce protection orders

· Improve the response of the Family Court and the criminal courts to victims of family violence, and

· Provide better protection for children in Family Court matters.

A Domestic Violence Reform Bill is currently being drafted, and will be tabled for consideration by the Government as soon as possible. The changes took place after widespread consultation in communities around New Zealand.

One important aspect of the proposed legislation is that police will be able to issue on-the-spot Safety Orders. The clause is still being drafted, but I know from my discussions in the United Kingdom there will be great interest taken in the success of this initiative. The principle of the on-the-spot orders is to make the family safe, as the first priority.

Another vital piece of legislation is the Victims Rights Act 2002 which is designed to ensure that a victim or a member of a victim’s family who has welfare, health, counselling, medical, or legal needs arising from the offence should have access to services that are responsive to those needs.

To improve the awareness of the provisions in the Act, the Ministry of Justice is developing a Victim’s Charter, website, and phone-line. These initiatives will create a central contact point for victims and form a significant part of the programme of work to improve the provision of information to victims of crime. Surveys have shown that what victims want most is information.

Legislation provides a framework for protecting victims and preventing further violence, but it is only one part of the solution.

We also need to change individual and society attitudes towards family violence. For too long family violence been a silent destroyer of families. We must have a voice against family violence, and we should not listen to excuses about alcohol, poverty and provocation. Our voice is now symbolised by the “It’s Not Okay” campaign.

When I talked in Leeds about that campaign, the manager of the Leeds project, Michelle de Souza, said she believed the slogan could be developed to become an international symbol against domestic violence. I couldn’t agree more.

The slogan has emerged from the nationwide campaign, launched in September last year, called the Campaign for Action on Family Violence. The campaign is also supporting leaders at a community and national level.

Given that the campaign aims to change the way New Zealanders think and act about family violence, the success of the television advertisements has been most encouraging. Recall of the ads has been extremely high, with almost 90 percent of those surveyed remembering the ads.

These are promising results. It is also encouraging that our society is less tolerant of family violence and more willing to report incidents. There is no quick fix, but the more we create an environment in which victims of family violence feel able to report what is happening to them, the more chance we have of ending this scourge on our society.

More people are now prepared to report family violence to the Police, because they know the complaint will be treated appropriately and sensitively.

The campaign is one initiative under the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families. The taskforce brings together government and non-government sectors, independent Crown entities, and the judiciary to work together in a coordinated way, to provide leadership to end family violence, and to promote healthy and stable families. The Taskforce reports to the Family Violence Ministerial Team, which sets the strategic direction of work on family violence.

Under the Taskforce work programme, the Ministries of Justice and Social Development are undertaking further work to support and assist victims in the Family Violence and district courts. An Independent Victim Advocate is being introduced in each Family Violence Court in 2009 to provide support and assistance to victims.

The Ministry of Justice also undertook wider work for the Family Violence Taskforce in 2007/08. This included improving the information given to victims, improving the security of courts, and establishing, in consultation with the Judiciary, four new Family Violence Courts in Auckland, Porirua, Masterton, and Lower Hutt.

I understand that Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier is talking today about the interface between the Family Court and criminal court. How these courts function is vital in protecting victims and holding perpetrators of family violence accountable.

These initiatives are setting a foundation for future successes in reducing and preventing family violence, but work needs to traverse sectors, it needs to cross disciplines and mediums. Currently, the justice system provides an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. No matter how effective that ambulance is, though, we have to target what is happening on top of the cliff.

In that respect, I want to talk about three other important approaches the Government is taking.

The first is increased funding for sexual violence prevention. I can announce today that the Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Contestable Fund is an allocation of two year funding being made available to Sexual Violence Prevention Service Providers within New Zealand.

The value of total funding for delivering projects is $400,000 a year (GST exclusive) over the two year period, and the Ministry of Justice will accept funding applications for projects requiring a minimum of $50,000 a year. In addition to the above funding, 20 percent of the total project delivery funding ($80,000) will be ring-fenced for evaluation establishment and baseline work in Year 1.

The second area I want to touch on concerns the abuse of alcohol in our society. We all know the devastating impact of alcohol in terms of violence, particularly family violence, and the Government is taking steps to try to ensure that we break the cycle of violence and alcohol abuse at a young age.

Associate Justice Minister Lianne Dalziel recently tabled the The Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill, which will tighten the law around supplying alcohol to young people, encourage compliance with licence conditions, and further restrict who is granted a liquor licence. The Bill is likely to have its first reading in Parliament soon.

The Bill proposes a ban on adults supplying liquor to under-18s, unless the adult is a parent or guardian, or has the consent of a parent or guardian, and it also proposes to empower local councils and their communities to establish local alcohol plans that include setting things like opening hours, one-way door policies, limitations on outlet density, and proximity to other premises like schools.

Communities have made it clear that they want a say in licensing decisions, and the Bill provides for this. Police say that alcohol is involved in up to 80 percent of crimes.

The third initiative is one that has me really excited. It is derived from Canada, and it is in 20 schools currently. It is called Roots of Empathy. A baby is brought into a classroom of nine-to-eleven year-olds on a regular basis with the baby’s mother and father. Children are encouraged to ask questions and take an interest in the baby’s development. The programme is all about targeting vulnerable people, teaching children what we need to do to protect vulnerable people such as babies. I hope the programme can expand to more schools soon.

In addition, under the second stage of the Government’s Effective Intervention programme, the Government is looking at expanding the provision of AOD/mental health nurses in the Police Watch Houses, increasing the availability of treatment in the Corrections sector by expanding the specialist AOD offender team project from the current 600 clients to 1000, and by providing additional AOD services to offenders in Auckland, Dunedin and Northland.

We are also looking to establish a Kaupapa Māori residential service for Māori offenders in the Central DHB region during 2009/10, at further expanding workforce capacity, and commissioning research into the effectiveness of treatment options for offenders.

I talked at the start today about the importance of local initiatives. This conference is all about community strength and community participation. The more communities can be persuaded to face problems together, the better chance there is of dealing with those problems.

The theme of this conference is the continuum of family violence, and I am personally very pleased to see that Professor Richie Poulton, of the Dunedin Longitudinal Study, will be speaking to you today. The Study’s research has greatly assisted our understanding in many areas of behaviour, including the trajectories that may set children on the path to offending and ultimately lead to family violence.

Early intervention has the greatest likelihood of succeeding for at-risk and vulnerable families, and has been a key philosophy of the Family Violence Taskforce.

Work is also underway under the Taskforce on families at-risk of family violence, such as the Family Violence Inter-Agency Response System. Set up by the New Zealand Police, Ministries of Justice and Social Development, Child, Youth, and Family, and NGOs, this initiative is about improving communication between government agencies and NGOs to better support families and children affected by family violence.

Some of you may have seen the story yesterday about Wairarapa Police taking an initiative to ensure families are kept safe as a first priority.

If we as New Zealanders are going to change our attitudes and behaviour in relation to family violence, a substantial shift in our thinking needs to take place. This change is a collective responsibility, and this conference proves that the people of Hawke’s Bay are taking on this responsibility and are committed to making a change.

The goal we must all aim toward is the elimination of family violence in New Zealand and zero tolerance of all forms of violence.

Conferences like this one encourage me to believe we can realistically look forward to a future where family violence is minimised. That has got to be the ambition that spurs us all. This conference is certainly a step along the way. Thank you very much for inviting me to join you here.

Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Call to Action on MDG 3

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:30:51 +1200

Ladies and gentleman, I would like to warmly welcome you all here this evening.

Women hold up half the sky, according to an ancient Chinese proverb.

What a powerful image. And one that emphasises the importance of the issues that we are drawing attention to tonight.

I am honoured to receive this torch on behalf of New Zealand, and to add our voice to the international call for increased attention and investment in the third Millennium Development Goal. We are proud to say that ‘we commit to do more’ for gender equality and the world’s women.

Women are the backbone of families, villages, communities and nations. Yet globally, they are much more likely than men to be poor, malnourished, illiterate, and have inadequate access to basic health services.

This must change. We must do all that we can to ensure that women, no matter where in the world they live, have a voice, and have their rights protected. Advancing women’s rights has a direct link to economic growth, sustainable development, good governance, and peace.

The MDG3 recognises this, and seeks to promote gender equality and empower all women by 2015.

Unfortunately progress is slow.

New Zealand is a country that has always been a strong supporter of women’s rights and we continue to be committed to the advancement of gender equality in the 21^st century. This includes playing a leadership role in our region, and making sure women’s issues receive the attention they deserve.

We do this regionally through the work of the New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development, which I have had the honour to be associated with for a number of years. And we do it at home, through policies that address the real needs of New Zealand women. These include paid parental leave, and free high quality child care, and initiatives like the taskforces that are co-ordinating efforts to end family and sexual violence.

We’ve prioritised gender and human rights issues across both our domestic and foreign policy agendas – especially in the area of our Overseas Development Assistance Programme.

Gender equality is absolutely central to good development practice – poverty will not be overcome without prioritising women’s empowerment. So, what is NZAID, our international aid and development agency, doing about this?

Firstly, they are making sure that gender issues are mainstreamed across all our development work; this means making the invisible visible, so that strategies for achieving gender equality are explicitly articulated and measurable. Right through from the design to the evaluation of an activity, gender issues will be discussed, acted upon, and monitored.

Secondly, they are supporting a range of activities that specifically address gender disparities and empower women economically, socially, and politically.

In accepting this torch, I am pleased to announce tonight some new ways through which we are playing our part to support MDG3.

NZAID will increase its annual contribution to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) by $500,000 this year and next. This represents a trebling of New Zealand’s contribution to UNIFEM in recent years.

New Zealand will also increase its contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from $4.5 million to $6 million in the coming year.

UNFPA’s work is critical to the achievement of the MDG5 maternal mortality goal, which is inextricably linked to MDG3, and this Call to Action.

Tonight we are reinforcing our commitment to progress gender equality across all our aid and development efforts.

New Zealand’s special relationship with the Pacific underpins our deep commitment to working with partners to advance the status of Pacific women.

While some countries in the region have made good progress, for others progress is mixed.

Domestic, family and sexual violence against women and girls is prevalent. And women continue to be disadvantaged in terms of access to education, employment and livelihood opportunities.

In some countries, women’s access to general and reproductive health care remains far below what they have a right to expect.

For example, a woman in Papua New Guinea, in the western Pacific, is fifty times more likely to die in childbirth than in New Zealand. The latest statistics suggest that maternal mortality there has actually doubled in the last ten years.

Gender inequality and violence are also significant causes and consequences of the spread of HIV and AIDS.

New Zealand is doing what it can to respond to these challenges through our aid programme. A new 10-year strategy of support to Papua New Guinea is strongly focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and on improving the delivery of primary health services, including support for sexual and reproductive health services and rights. Support will also be extended to build the capacity of organisations focused on addressing women’s rights and violence against women.

New Zealand also supports a range of initiatives at the wider regional level which will progress MDG3.

These include continued support to improve sexual and reproductive health services in the Pacific. This recognises the low rates of contraceptive use, high rates of teenage pregnancy, and high rates of sexually transmitted infections.

NZAID has also recently committed to support a programme to improve the quality of nursing in the region – the majority of nurses being women.

So this evening, I would like to invite my Pacific Parliamentary colleagues in the region (and those here tonight) to join me in accepting this torch. As members of Parliament, and members of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), we each have a duty to advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment in our respective Parliaments.

The Pacific Island region has the lowest representation of women in Parliaments in the world, and five countries have no women MPs at all.

This absolutely has to change. Full participation in the political process for all citizens is a fundamental human right.

New Zealand has consistently encouraged Pacific governments to step up and act as a beacon to their own peoples.

I reinforce that message today, and offer my support, and the support and friendship of the New Zealand Parliament, to our colleagues here tonight.

Finally I want to personally commit to raising the importance of investing in MDG3 with my peers.

The effort we make now will make sure that our daughters, and their daughters – in New Zealand, the Pacific, and around the world – can live alongside our sons, with equal rights and opportunities, in peace, prosperity and hope.

Resource Recovery and Carbon Emissions: what’s up in New Zealand

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:41:05 +1200

Environment Minister Trevor Mallard’s speech at the Zero Waste and Zero Carbon Conference, Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, Ashburton

Hello and welcome to the Zero Waste and Zero Carbon conference. It is a pleasure to be here today and I would like to offer my thanks to Zero Waste Trust and Wastebusters Trust Canterbury for organising this event and inviting me along.

It’s great to see the community increasingly focusing on the impacts climate change will have on New Zealand’s environment and economy. This conference aims to further refine that focus by identifying the connections between climate change and resource recovery.

I have been asked to outline New Zealand’s efforts to address climate change issues, and how these policies relate to resource recovery and the waste sector in general.

Climate change and waste initiatives

Issues such as resource recovery and climate change are fundamentally linked. When we consider the possible impacts of climate change on our future, then initiatives that include sustainability and waste reduction are all crucial to realising the Government goals of reducing New Zealand’s carbon emissions and reducing the effect humans have on the environment.
I will briefly touch on two major government policy initiatives most relevant to the theme of this conference.

1. Improving Waste Management

As you know, the Waste Minimisation Bill is currently going through Parliament.

The government wants New Zealand to become a sustainable nation. The passing of this new waste legislation will help in this work by changing the way we deal with waste.

The Bill will encourage all of us to deal with waste in a smarter, more co-ordinated way so that we are using our resources sustainably.

It puts a levy on all waste disposed of in a landfill, initially at $10 per tonne. The revenue from the levy will be used to help communities and businesses address waste issues.

But the Bill also goes beyond reducing the amount of rubbish we throw away. It will offer economic incentives and rewards so that businesses, councils and the public will find that reducing waste has a number of potential benefits. It can help save money because less material is used in the production of goods the first place; help New Zealand reduce its greenhouse gas emissions; and provide new business opportunities.

There is recognition that central government needs to provide clearer direction on how to minimise waste and on the balance to be struck between waste and recyclables. The Bill is there to encourage waste minimisation, and I am committed to ensuring that it does not serve as a barrier to those who are already out there reducing waste such as scrap recycling merchants.

Labour continues to engage with other parties around the finer detail but the Bill represents a major step forward in our thinking about waste and is both realistic and far-reaching. It will be a major step forward towards minimising the impact we have on the environment.

The new waste legislation builds on the progress made by the New Zealand Waste Strategy 2002 by putting more emphasis on investment in ‘front-of-pipe’ solutions. That means focusing on how we can reduce the potential for waste at the very beginning of the design process.

We need to encourage the most efficient use of materials so there is less waste generated from the production process rather than just managing the waste that results from it.

A key part of the Bill relates to product stewardship clauses. Product stewardship proposes to make producers, importers, retailers, consumers and other parties take responsibility for the environmental effects of their products – from ‘cradle-to-grave’. It is a tool with the potential to greatly improve how we deal with some of the more difficult wastes such as electronic goods.

The bill will assist and recognise businesses which develop voluntary product stewardship schemes and prove that they are taking steps to minimise environmental impacts from the manufacture, use and disposal of their product.

The bill will build on the good progress made by existing, voluntary schemes such as the Packaging Accord, Paintwise, Vodafone, Fisher and Paykel and Agrecovery.

In many cases, participants have been restricted on how far they can go to make their product sustainable. Free riders, a lack of waste recovery options and not enough recognition of the impact of waste minimisation have so far constrained efforts.

This bill enables product stewardship schemes to reach their full potential. Businesses will have the opportunity for commercial gains where their products and brands stand out in the market through improved efficiency and a proven commitment to the environment.

2. Emissions Trading Scheme

Climate change puts our wellbeing, our economy, our communities, our environment, and our way of life at risk. To protect them, we must rise to the sustainability challenge. We will need to both reduce our emissions and prepare for the physical impacts of climate change.

A cornerstone of our response on climate change is the proposed emissions trading scheme. This will create an incentive across the economy to reduce emissions. By building the emissions cost into a product or service, we will reward manufacturers and producers who reduce their emissions and encourage others to avoid increasing theirs.

The emissions trading scheme the government is supporting will cover all sectors of the economy and all gases included under the Kyoto Protocol. By covering all six greenhouse gases and all sectors of the economy, the scheme will encourage the least-cost emission reduction wherever it occurs in the economy.

This will help avoid distortions between different sectors in the economy and ensure the responsibility and costs of pollution are distributed fairly and effectively. Like the Waste Minimisation Bill, the scheme offers economic incentives and rewards for those who are working towards a greener, cleaner future.

Energy Strategy and Reduction Targets

Energy is vital to all aspects of our lives, and we often take for granted simple acts like turning on the light switch or starting the car. Yet our energy use is a major contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions.

A range of actions introduced under the New Zealand Energy Strategy and the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy are directed at addressing sustainability and energy efficiency in both businesses and households.

In New Zealand, about 65 per cent of electricity is already generated from renewable sources. Through the New Zealand Energy Strategy, the government has set a goal that by 2025, 90 per cent of electricity will come from renewable sources.

To deliver on this, we are restricting the development of fossil fuel base load electricity generation for the next 10 years by proposing amendments to the Electricity Act. Those include a 10-year restriction on the construction of fossil fuel thermal generation above 10 MW whose fuel source contains more than 20 per cent fossil fuels.

Labour has a vision of a clean, renewable energy sector and New Zealand is on track to achieving it.

The role of local government

Local government has a vital role to play as we focus on climate change and the issues we face as a result.

Earlier this month, the government released its proposed National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation. This statement will provide guidance to councils on what to consider when processing resource consent applications for renewable electricity generation projects under the Resource Management Act.

Providing better clarity on the government’s position on this issue should also help create more confidence for investors in renewable electricity generation projects.

Other work on issues such as sea level rise is now well advanced. The government will give guidance to territorial authorities to help identify and quantify the opportunities and risks of climate change and the impact things such as rising sea levels may have on infrastructure.

For example, earlier this month the Ministry for the Environment released a Coastal Hazards and Climate Change guidance manual. It is designed to provide local government and other decision makers with information on the key effects climate change could have on coastal communities and coastal infrastructure.

At the same time the Ministry has released Preparing for Climate Change which highlights the most up-to-date projections on how New Zealand’s environment could change with global warming. It demonstrates how to incorporate climate change into local government regulatory, assessment and planning processes.

The government is also assisting local government to develop and implement emission reduction activities through its Communities for Climate Protection programme funded by the Ministry for the Environment. At present there are 33 member councils connected with the programme, several of which are in attendance today.

Zero carbon, zero waste is a timely theme for this conference and you can see by our programme of work that the government has been focusing on introducing legislation to both address waste and climate change issues.

Your conference is beneficial in drawing people’s attention to how sustainability, climate change, resource use and recovery issues closely interweave.

If we as a country wish to achieve our waste free and climate neutral aspirations, we need to take personal responsibility for reducing our own waste and our own emissions. Each sector has things that it can do to reduce waste. While the government is taking steps in the major area of climate change, it is in the hands of all of us to do what we can to reduce our individual impact on the environment.

Thank you.

Sod turning, Newmarket Railway Station

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:41:11 +1200

The future of rail in Auckland is destined to be so dynamic that I am sure that today’s ceremonial event at Newmarket will be only one of a number of significant occasions occurring over the next few years.

The last time I stood here at this station I witnessed --- and heard --- first hand the unpleasant reality of a noisy diesel train rattling past and making life a misery for people living and working alongside the station.

Well, today’s ceremony --- turning the first sod for what will be a wonderful new station at Newmarket --- marks the first step in turning that around, and I certainly hope to be back here when the new station is completed and then again when the final improvement --- electrification of Auckland’s rail network --- becomes the new reality.

Thank you for inviting me here today. I want to acknowledge Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee; Auckland Regional Council transport and urban linkages committee chair Christine Rose; New Zealand Transport Agency Board board member Christine Caughey; Auckland Regional Transport Authority chair Mark Ford; and Cameron Brewer, Newmarket Business Association chief executive.

I also acknowledge representatives from Hawkins Construction, which last week won the contract to build the new station.

I am proud of this Government’s unprecedented investment in infrastructure over the past nine years --- in health, education, police and transport to mention just a few of the big-spending areas --- and I am particularly proud of the level of investment in Auckland.

In terms of economic progress, nowhere is this investment in infrastructure more critical than it is in transport, and I am sure that there are not many people in Newmarket who would disagree with that statement.

An efficient and effective rail system is of critical importance to New Zealand’s economic development. This is especially apparent in Auckland, the country’s economic powerhouse, and that puts in context why this event --- the start of a major upgrade to one of the city’s busiest stations --- is so important.

As you know, the Government has ambitious plans to improve public transport in Auckland as part of developing a world class transport network.

That is why, in 2006, the Government established Project DART and set aside $600 million to fund a series of improvements to Auckland’s rail network. This project represents the most significant redevelopment of the New Zealand rail network in decades.

ONTRACK has responsibility for the planning, design and construction of additional rail infrastructure, while ARTA carries out a programme of upgrades to station facilities and rolling stock.

It is all part of a regional plan to have a rapid transit network with high frequency, high-quality public transport services.

The benefits of improving public transport in Auckland are only too clear, with train patronage in the region growing 130 percent over the past four years. In real terms, we are looking at an increase from 2.5 million passengers in 2003 to close to seven million projected by the end of this year.

In June – compared to the same time last year – rail patronage in Auckland leapt an incredible 30 percent, although some of this can, of course, be attributed to the high global price of oil.

ARTA, with its operator Veolia, has done a lot of work, however, over the last few years to improve timetables, frequency of services and reliability.

Keeping up with this increased demand is an ongoing challenge. The more you do, the more people want. That’s a good thing, not a bad one.

While the increasing patronage we’re seeing may create some challenges in the short term, it’s still a great sign that we’re delivering what people want – better public transport.

The next major step in the development of Auckland’s passenger rail network is the electrification of the network. As you all know, the recently enacted Land Transport Management Act enables a Regional Fuel Tax, a new funding tool to help regions meet their transport needs, and my officials are currently evaluating Auckland’s regional fuel tax application. This proposal is designed to go a long way to making electrification a reality.

The redevelopment of Newmarket station and junction will cost $48 million, including $25 million for the station building and $23 million for the track realignment work.

The construction work will reconnect the station with the heart of Newmarket’s CBD and is probably the most challenging of all the DART projects. It involves major construction in a very confined and busy part of the network, running through the middle of a commercial, retail and residential suburb.

There is no doubt the work is needed. The current track layout creates a bottleneck and pinch point in the system with two lines coming together, and a major track redesign is required.

ONTRACK has done a great job of constructing two temporary stations at Newmarket West (Kingdon Road) and Newmarket South to minimise disruption during redevelopment.

I understand the new station design will include twin island platforms, three tracks and two elevated concourses. Pedestrian facilities will link the station with Remuera Road, and nearby retail, business and local bus services.

I am told the new station is not only going to be a significant building, but also a stunning addition to the area.

I know the Auckland City Council is also doing a lot of work to complement the Newmarket station development and improve public transport and walking and cycling facilities. It has already committed funds to give Broadway a facelift, which includes improvements to footpaths, street furniture, lighting and parking.

Such an integrated planning approach is essential for Auckland’s future development.

The Government is delighted to be back so decisively in the business of rail, but not everyone was so delighted. You could say the National Party ‘railed’ against it in Parliament.

And we are also delighted to be working so closely with Auckland across a range of public transport initiatives.

Thank you again for inviting me to be part of this event today. The people of Newmarket can now look forward to a station and facilities to be proud of, and, just as importantly, Auckland is now one step closer to a future rail network that wouldn’t have seemed possible a decade ago.

Congratulations to all the agencies who are working together in Auckland to make rail such an important part of our lives again.

Stepped Up Pasifika Education Plan Launch

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:51:50 +1200

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Kia orana, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all. It is absolutely wonderful to be here today for the launch of the Pasifika Education Plan 2008 – 2012, a plan committed to making sure that our young Pacific people achieve and succeed in the education system.

Greetings and acknowledgements
It is exciting to see the number of students taking part today, and I thank you for your kind welcome and introduction. Thank you to our hosts at De La Salle College, Brother Stephen Hogan and all those involved in preparing for this celebration and for welcoming us. I would like to acknowledge also the leaders and members of the Pacific community who have joined us, and especially our students and their families –this Pasifika Education Plan is after all for you!

Education underpins all the goals we have for New Zealand's future, and the aspirations we have for all New Zealanders. Our government understands the importance of education as a key factor in improving our Pacific people's wellbeing, providing pathways to success, and promoting Pacific cultures as an integral part of New Zealand’s national identity.

Pasifika approaches to education
We all have a role to play in the future success of our young people. For our Pacific communities, education and career development are often “whole of family” matters.

Like my parents, our Pacific ancestors made the long journey to New Zealand with dreams and plans for the futures of their children. They knew that education would be the key to many opportunities, they were determined that their children would be given that key, and they were prepared to make sacrifices to ensure they got it.

They knew that with the benefits of school qualifications and post-school studies – whether it be academic, trade or professional training – the lives of their young people and future generations would be richer in many senses.

Today, New Zealand’s Pacific population is young fast growing and diverse, with multiple ethnicities, languages and culture groups. Our Pacific age structure and growth rates are expected to have direct implications for the labour force of the future, meaning Pacific success is critical to New Zealand's success.

That future will be global, technologically complex, rapidly-changing and diverse. It will offer new opportunities and rewards for well-trained, qualified and versatile people. Our Pacific youth will be well-placed to take advantage of the new trends and opportunities.

It is vital then that future Pacific generations respond quickly to every educational and training opportunity available to them.

We want to ensure our children have the best possible start with early childhood education. We want our children at school gaining educational qualifications, and we want our young people to be involved in higher levels of education or training once they’ve left school.

As we've heard from the Minister of Education today, the 2007 Pasifika Education Plan Monitoring Report shows that we are seeing more and more encouraging trends in educational achievement for our young Pacific people.

The benefits of education will be obvious to many of you here today. At a personal level you will enjoy the satisfaction and pride of gaining qualifications, greater self-esteem and confidence. But you will also discover that qualifications open up much wider career and life choices. You will find better employment prospects and more than likely earn higher incomes over your lifetime than you would without qualifications. Your achievements will also contribute to your families, your wider communities, and ultimately to the country’s wellbeing.

Development of PEP – and the partnerships
The Pasifika Education Plan represents our government’s commitment to 'step up' and strengthen the gains already made in improving the educational opportunities available to Pacific peoples in New Zealand.

Pacific students rate of achievement is still lagging behind the overall student average, but with a more concentrated and collaborative approach, the focus for the future is on increasing Pacific participation, retention and achievement at all levels of the education system.

I wish here to pay tribute to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Tertiary Education Commission, Career Services, Education Review Office, New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the New Zealand Teachers Council whose joined up work underpins the structure and implementation of the education plan. My warm thanks to all those involved in stepping up the Plan to a dynamic new level.

We all have a role to play in the education of our young people, and a stake in the “stepping up” of the Plan - to our Pasifika leaders, families and communities, education professionals and education agencies – I congratulate you.

This launch celebrates your commitment and expertise, and your ability to work together as a team towards common goals.
The success of the new Plan will be determined by your willingness to continue sharing responsibility for implementing it.

Together, you will reap the satisfaction of seeing the goals of the Plan in action, ensuring that Pasifika children and young people participate in quality early childhood education, that they attend are engaged in and enthusiastic about learning, and that they achieve to the very best of their personal potential throughout their school and tertiary education years.

Closing remarks
It is important to acknowledge how much educational success is owed to a strong, positive and encouraging school environment – an environment created by whole teams of people like the teachers, principals, support staff and parent organisations whose commitment is reflected in their presence today.

They are the people who will play a central role in implementing and monitoring the goals of the Pasifika Education Plan.
I encourage you all to continue your outstanding work for New Zealand’s future generations.

And I encourage all parents to continue taking an interest in the education and opportunities available to their children, to become aware of the issues that arise and actively involved in developments.

I encourage our young people to grasp the opportunities, to follow their interests and use their natural abilities to the utmost throughout your lives. You will have a huge community of support throughout this process, ensuring that you continue to make progress in your education journey in the years to come - with the Plan providing a ta’iala or a guide to that journey.

I am delighted to be taking part, with my colleague Chris Carter, in the launch of the stepped up Pasifika Education Plan 2008 - 2012, and the release of the 2007 Monitoring Report.

Thank you all. Ia manuia and God bless.

Speech to officially welcome of first modified Air Force Boeing 757 in Wellington

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:07:07 +1200

CDF, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, CAF, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to formally welcome the first of our modified B757s home.

This aircraft is the first of the Air Force’s modified fixed wing fleet to be completed. It has undergone a major refit and upgrade and will provide enhanced capability for the Air Force.

The second B757 is due to arrive home later this year, as is the first of the Air Force’s five C-130 Hercules, which are being upgraded. The first of our six P-3 Orion aircraft is expected home in the second half of 2009.

The fleets are undergoing major life extension and upgrade projects, which at $221 million, $234 million and $352 million, respectively for each of the fleets represents a significant investment in RNZAF capabilities.

This follows an outlay of $900 million in the past 12 months for eight NH-90 medium utility helicopters and five Agusta-Westland A109LUH helicopters and a flight simulator.

The combination of this investment provides the Air Force with state of the art equipment which will serve New Zealand well, in the case of the helicopters for up to 30 years.

The 757s have been specifically modified to suit our requirements as a multi role aircraft.

In October 2005, Mobile Aerospace Engineering (MAE) of Alabama was selected as the prime system integration contractor for the project. Specialist design and support was supplied by Boeing Integrated Defence Systems.

The 757s will greatly enhance the NZDF’s strategic airlift capability to deploy New Zealand troops to overseas missions and evacuate New Zealand citizens should the need arise.

They provide much greater flexibility in this area than the 727s they replaced. The modified aircraft have greater range and payload capacity to perform a combination of freight/passenger roles, a full freight role, troop transport, VIP transport and to carry out emergency medical evacuations and non combatant evacuations from the world’s hotspots.

They can go further and faster than the C-130s, which means our troops, equipment and aid supplies can get to places such as Kabul, Dili, Honiara – or anywhere else they are needed – much faster and with more flexibility.

For example, a 757 could transport 160 of our troops for a rotation of the PRT in Afghanistan, and the next day could be reconfigured to carry 11 pallets of medical supplies and equipment to assist in an emergency such as occurred in Banda Aceh. This could normally require two C-130s.

The main modifications that have taken place include an upgrade to civil communication, navigation, and surveillance/air traffic management systems to meet future global air traffic control requirements, an improvement to engine thrust, and new military communications capabilities.

A cargo door has also been installed, internal access air stairs added, and the aircraft’s floors have been strengthened.

This investment, at $221 million, is part of a major upgrading and replacement of capital equipment through the Defence Long-Term Development Plan. The $3.3 billion invested in this area sits alongside a further $4.2 billion investment over 10 years in the Defence Sustainability Initiative, which among other things will fund a 12 percent growth in defence force numbers.

The reinvestment and rebuilding programme is spread across all three services, but it is especially evident across the Air Force where every platform is either being upgraded or replaced. There has been very good progress on Air Force projects over the past year.

As well as welcoming back the Boeing today and the progress on the Orion and Hercules aircraft, we have, as I mentioned, concluded contracts for the acquisition of the world class NH90 advanced medium utility helicopters and the A109 training and light utility helicopters.

Helicopters play a key role across all three services of the Defence Force. They are amongst the most useful and heavily utilised forms of equipment – having utility for deployment, counter terrorism, command and control, search and rescue and disaster relief. The NH90s and A109s will be a valuable addition to New Zealand.

We have also committed expenditure for essential infrastructure at Ohakea.
The reconstruction of Taxiway A and earthworks for the new NH90 helicopter hangar are almost completed, and funding has been committed for a new terminal and engineering workshop.

Like the rest of the NZDF, the Air Force faces the simultaneous challenges of bringing new equipment into service across many platforms while managing a busy operating schedule in the face of a changing strategic environment.

Instability and unrest has become a persistent feature of the Pacific region. Our defence response, which involves enhanced capabilities is part of a cooperative, whole-of-government effort.

Strategic airlift is a vital component of those capabilities, particularly in the Pacific. The 757s have already proven their utility during the 2006 riots in Tonga. The modifications to these aircraft will further improve that utility in tasks such as transport, disaster and humanitarian relief, carriage of NZDF or Pacific Island Country personnel to operations and to defence diplomacy activities.

The modified 757s will provide an enhanced strategic airlift capability that will enable whole-of-government responses in the tasks I have just mentioned as Defence works with partner agencies such as MFAT, NZAID and the Police.

I acknowledge the Project Teams and others who have managed the successful modification of this first of our 757s. RNZAF and Ministry staff have been professional in all their tasks. I wish the RNZAF well as they take the aircraft through its operational test and evaluation (OT&E) period and look forward to the arrival of the second of the 757s later this year.

Thank you for being here today to celebrate this occasion.

Tackling climate change downunder

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:23:06 +1200

Address at the opening of the 4th Australia and New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference
5.45pm, 18 August 2008
Sky City Auckland Convention Centre, Auckland

I would first like to welcome you all here to Auckland for the 4th Australia and New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference. I wish to offer a particularly warm welcome to our counterparts who have made the trip over from Australia and further afield. We are pleased to have you here in New Zealand.

New Zealand is proud to be hosting this event. It is occurring at a particularly important time in the climate change arena in Australasia. The debate around climate change has well and truly moved on from whether it is happening to what we should do about it. We are focusing on initiatives that will have an impact on reducing emissions.

We know this is a huge challenge. Every nation is grappling with it in some way: whether it is how to meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol; involvement in discussions about the post-2012 agreement or preparing to face the impacts of climate change on their country and their people. We know all emitting nations must act to address climate change if we are to have any chance of reversing the path our world is on.

The Australian Government’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol last year was an important milestone. It provided greater opportunity for our countries to work together and to learn from each other, as we look for ways to bring about the changes needed.

Both of our countries are moving to establish emissions trading schemes. This will be a cornerstone of our responses to climate change. It will see the cost of greenhouse gas emissions reflected in our economies, into all investment decisions. Increases in emissions cost. Lower emissions are rewarded. To be efficient an emissions trading scheme must create a marginal cost for increases in emissions and a marginal benefit for decreases. Both our schemes do this.

I think it is fair to say that both governments recognise that there is no easy time to introduce pricing for greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore gratifying that both nations are looking to do this in a similar timeframe, given our close economic ties. If anything, we are both a little late. From January the 1st this year our countries have already faced a marginal cost for increases in emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, yet our businesses do not yet see the same economic signal. The sooner this is remedied, the less it will cost our respective economies to reduce emissions. It will also assist our countries to unleash the business opportunities that lie in low emission technologies.

It makes sound business sense for organisations to be preparing for the introduction of emissions trading. Organisations that will be a point of obligation under the scheme will be looking both at how to minimise emissions and how to go about buying the required credits to meet obligations. For organisations outside the scheme, addressing the likely flow-on costs will be important in minimising the economic impact on business. Options to minimise costs include, for example, through energy efficiency initiatives, reviewing vehicle fleets and encouraging change in staff behaviour.

New Zealand’s proposed emissions trading scheme is only one part of a broader package designed to address climate change on a number of fronts. Initiatives have been implemented to encourage new renewable electricity generation. There are already very substantial investments in renewables underway, especially wind and geothermal.

Like other countries, New Zealand has advantages and disadvantages arising from our emissions profile. For us, reducing agricultural emissions is not as easy as our transition towards more renewable electricity. Already about two-thirds of our electricity comes from renewables and we have a target of reaching 90 percent by 2025. We recognise that not all renewables have the same environmental impact. It’s similar with biofuels. Some are better than others. We have introduced sustainability criteria for both biofuels and for electricity. We expect most of our additional electricity to come from geothermal and wind, with some hydro. Our proposed restriction on more coal or gas-fired baseload generation will prevent renewables being crowded out by more fossil fuel generation. The Opposition disagrees with this stance, but lifting renewables from 65 percent to 90 percent is little different to other countries lifting renewables to 25 percent from a low base.

Investments are being made in developing and implementing new technologies, such as second generation biofuels and new renewable electricity options like marine and deep geothermal or hot rocks technology. The New Zealand government, in partnership with the agricultural industry, is investing in pioneering research into reducing emissions and lifting productivity in that sector. Businesses and households are being encouraged to improve their energy efficiency. We are busy implementing the principle that as a country we should invest in efficiency where it is cheaper than the long term costs of extra energy or new generation capacity, taking into account environmental externalities. Efforts are being made to reduce waste to landfill, including recycling in public places and through the Waste Minimisation Bill currently before parliament. I know similar initiatives are underway in Australia.

In terms of outcomes, our projections see energy emissions levelling off, in stark contrast to the prior trend upwards.

Businesses are already stepping up to the challenge and playing their part. There are many examples of climate change-related initiatives that businesses have developed.

The TZ1 Carbon Exchange offers a regulated marketplace for trading and accounting for carbon credits in the compliance and voluntary markets.

Landcare Research’s carboNZero programme has supported organisations in New Zealand and overseas to to measure, reduce and offset their greenhouse gas emissions.

The conference programme over the next few days has a strong emphasis on the carbon markets, both compliance and voluntary. This is indicative of the general acceptance that carbon pricing is a reality which businesses need to manage.

The voluntary market is growing as many organisations use this platform to gain experience in buying credits or to meet their aspirations for carbon neutrality. It can be a useful mechanism to drive innovation in developing new ways to reduce greenhouse gas production.

A number of the speakers you will hear from over the course of the next few days will describe their experiences as they look to position themselves in the sustainability market and prepare for the introduction of emissions trading. Others will be demonstrating the business opportunities that exist as a result of climate change.

It is important to remember that your organisation is not alone in its endeavours to be more sustainable and reduce its emissions. All businesses in New Zealand and Australia need to be thinking about the impact of their actions on the environment. Sustainability will be fundamental in ensuring New Zealand and Australian businesses remain competitive in the global marketplace. Given our remote location, New Zealand firms need to be especially mindful of the environmental impact of their products. This is necessary to remain competitive in our highest value overseas markets, where consumers are increasingly discerning about environmental integrity.

This forum is an excellent opportunity for you to share ideas, discuss initiatives, to push boundaries and discover new approaches.

There is a wealth of experience and knowledge gathered here for you to tap into. I am confident you will find this conference stimulating, and that it will inspire action.

Talking about climate change is one thing. The important thing is to take action.

I trust you will find this conference of value and I hope you enjoy your time here in Auckland.