TVNZ to lose strict commercial focus
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs announced this week that the status of Television New Zealand is to change from a state-owned enterprise to a crown company, the same status as Radio New Zealand. A crown company has a mix of public policy and commercial objectives, while an SOE has a strict commercial focus. This will enable TVNZ to give priority to fulfilling its charter while maintaining its financial performance. Broadcast Communications Ltd (BCL), the company's transmission arm, and TVNZ Australia will be retained as separate companies within the TVNZ group to operate as successful businesses and, as far as practicable, be independent of TVNZ. Legislation to establish the crown company will be passed to enable the new public broadcasting charter to take effect from 1 July 2002.
PM confident on progress on Manning case
Prime Minister Helen Clark met this week with Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and later expressed optimism that the killer of a New Zealand soldier shot last July when his patrol surprised a group of pro-Indonesian militia would be found. Helen Clark is hopeful Private Leonard Manning's killer will be punished, despite President Wahid's own pessimism about his nation's justice system. President Wahid this week made an 18-hour visit to Christchurch. Indonesian authorities have apprehended a former militia
commander Jakobus Bere, but there are doubts over how strenuously
his case will be prosecuted. Helen Clark says encouraging reports have been received indicating that Indonesia was prepared to pursue the matter
Govt to help fund clean-up project
The government will grant nearly $500,000 to the Tasman District Council to help with cleaning up a former chemical company site in Mapua, near Nelson. Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said this week the money will cover two-thirds of the cost with the Tasman council meeting the other one-third. The former Fruitgrowers Chemical Company site is heavily contaminated with pesticide residues, including DDT and dieldrin, as a result of over 50 years' intensive chemical manufacturing until it closed in 1988. The site poses a risk to human health and, in its present state, is not safe for any use
Help for Peru quake relief
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Official Development Assistance), Matt Robson, announced this week that New Zealand will contribute $150,000 to the International Red Cross for relief work in Peru following a heavy earthquake in the South American country. New Zealand's contribution will help the Red Cross mobilise immediate relief efforts in cooperation with Peruvian authorities.
Community law centres get boost
Justice Minister Phil Goff this announced that the government was giving extra funds to community law centres to avoid a cut in services. The centres are to get $5.6 million this year compared to $5.2m last year. The funding for the 2000/01 year is being allocated to 24 centres including new ones in Taranaki and Manawatu and the new Maori Community Law Centre which opened this week in Wellington to replace a centre disbanded last year. Mr Goff says community law centres are usually fully funded from interest derived from solicitors' trust accounts but falling interest rates meant the funding derived from this is
insufficient to meet full costs.
NZ to push new whale sanctuary bid
Conservation Minister Sandra Lee says New Zealand and Australia will next month launch a new bid for International Whaling Commission (IWC) support
for a South Pacific whale sanctuary. Sandra Lee will attend to the IWC's meeting in London with the main decision-making plenary session scheduled for
July 23-27. New Zealand and Australia proposed the whale sanctuary at last year's IWC meeting in Adelaide. Sandra Lee says it is probably no coincidence several countries, including Iceland, are joining the IWC in time for the London
meeting. She says scientific research will be presented to the IWC confirming meat from the whale species pseudorca crassidens, so-called false killer whales, is being sold in Japanese markets.
Vehicle safety package released
A package of proposals aimed at significantly boosting vehicle safety in New Zealand was released this week by Transport Minister Mark Gosche. The 11 proposals released for discussion include changes to the rules governing vehicle importation, safety inspections and standards compliance. New standards for frontal impact protection systems for passenger cars are a key proposal in the package. The minister says vehicles are getting safer and safer as new safety technology is developed and new standards are introduced. The changes proposed in this package aim to ensure that New Zealanders enjoy the benefits of these advances. The proposals will play an important part in the government's determination to bring the road toll down. The Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) is seeking feedback on the proposals which can be seen on the LTSA website, www.ltsa.govt.nz, or ordered by ringing 0800 699 000. The deadline for comments is 31 August.
