Business-Government forum
About 100 South Island business people attended the latest business-government forum in Christchurch on 8 and 9 February. Prime Minister Helen Clark, Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton and Finance Minister Michael Cullen were joined by nine ministerial colleagues at the event. The forum followed a similar event in Auckland last October. The aim was to identify policy initiatives which will create wealth and further the economic and social climate. Topics for the workshop sessions in Christchurch included education, immigration, skills training, investment and taxation.
Government to increase skilled migrant numbers
The Government aims to increase the annual number of skilled and business migrants approved to enter New Zealand to a total of around 27,000 a year. The new target represents a 60 per cent increase on the 1999-2000 figure of 17,000 skilled and business migrants coming to New Zealand. The new target will take effect from 1 July 2001. Helen Clark and Lianne Dalziel announced the new target which is aimed at ensuring that the New Zealand economy has the skills and entrepreneurial base it needs to develop high value industries and services in the 21st century. When the Government held its first business-government forum in Auckland last year, many of the participants said that several aspects of immigration policy posed barriers to New Zealand attracting highly skilled workers from overseas. The government is now moving to ensure that immigration policy is responsive to business needs and facilitates economic and business growth.
Info-tech projects for young people
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Education Minister Trevor Mallard have announced four education-based pilots to help New Zealand embrace the economic and social benefits of information technology. The projects resulted from meetings between senior government ministers and information and communication technology business leaders which began in July last year. The government will commit $10.4 million over the next four years to the projects. The 15 leading companies participating in the pilots will contribute in a variety of ways including offering products at reduced rates as well as the skills and experience of their staff. The pilots are in West Auckland and Gisborne; the Far North; the Hutt Valley; Southland and Canterbury. Details are available from Trevor Mallard's office. (04) 471 9456.
Advisory groups to consolidate workplace law
Minister of Labour Margaret Wilson this week announced the membership and terms of reference of three advisory committees which will develop new proposals for New Zealand workplace law and practice. The groups will advise on Equal Employment Opportunity, the Holidays Act and the protection of workers when work is transferred to a different employer.
Reduction in unemployment
The official rate of unemployment has fallen to 5.6 per cent - the lowest rate since June 1988. Employment is up by 36,000 year on year, and unemployment is down by 11,000 over the same period. Long term unemployment has decreased - down from 41,700 a year ago to 32,400 for the December 2000 quarter. While all ethnic groups have shown a decrease in unemployment - the rate of Maori unemployment is now 13 per cent, down from 14.5 per cent a year ago, and19.5 per cent in December 1998.
Resource Teachers: Literacy - Trevor Mallard
Education Minister Trevor Mallard this week announced the schools which would host 121 new Resource Teachers of Literacy. The teachers would be based at 86 schools from Kaitaia to Invercargill and would play a major part in the Government's efforts to tackle literacy among the very young. The positions are a result of a $34.4 million initiative over four years to help children, mainly up to eight years old, who are most at risk of failing to read and write. The 69 existing Resource Teachers of Reading will form the core of the new Resource Teachers: Literacy, with an additional 40 positions coming on stream during this term. The remaining resource teachers will work within Maori Immersion settings. The specialist Resource Teachers: Literacy (RT: Lits) will be available nationwide for teaching those children in years 0-8 who need more intensive teaching in reading and writing.
