Food standards agency to be established
The Government has announced it will create a special Food Administration Authority to safeguard New Zealand's food safety standards and reputation as a safe food exporter. Acting Agriculture Minister Michael Cullen says currently the Ministry of Health is responsible for administering food regulations within New Zealand, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry administers food exports. The government will integrate these functions within a single semi-autonomous agency attached to MAF. The agency will be serviced for administrative purposes by MAF but a new portfolio will be created so that it has its own Minister. Michael Cullen says the new authority will have its own Vote, its own policy capability and its own advisory board.
New legislation to protect subbies
Associate Commerce Minister Laila Harre this week introduced to Parliament a bill designed to protect subcontractors and suppliers caught up in company collapses, such as the Hartner Construction receivership. It is aimed at protecting subcontractors and suppliers from falling victim to the fluctuating fortunes of developers or lead contractors, replacing the old Wages Protection and Contractors Liens Act, which was abolished in 1987. Laila Harré says the Construction Contracts Bill will bring about the end of more than a decade of cashflow problems and insolvency within the construction industry.
Govt releases tourism strategy
Tourism Minister Mark Burton this week released New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010. Mark Burton says it is a visionary document that has resulted from a partnership approach, and signals a clear way forward for sustainable tourism development. The report covers a wide range of issues such as the role of Tourism New Zealand and new regional tourism organisations (RTOs), branding, conservation issues, the role of cultural heritage and Maori involvement in tourism planning. Mark Burton says he has asked officials from the Office of Tourism and Sport to lead a cross-government approach and to report back by mid-July on options and priorities. The report and recommendations are on www.executive.govt.nz
PM in Korea
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced while in Seoul this week that New Zealand is establishing a Prime Minister's Fellowship programme with South Korea. The programme will provide for a visit to New Zealand each year by a selected member of the South Korea's parliament. A similar programme for Japan has been highly successful. The Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of an extradition treaty between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea during her meeting with South Korea President Kim Dae-jung in Seoul today. Helen Clark also announced that New Zealand is donating NZ$200,000 to UNICEF for its work in North Korea. She said the assistance follows a series of natural disasters in North Korea including floods and landslides, hail damage to crops, wave damage to costal areas, and prolonged drought.
Govt moves to clarify GST law
Finance Minister Michael Cullen said this week the government is clarifying the pre-1999 application of GST to services contracted for outside New Zealand by non-New Zealand residents, but consumed here. The law change will deny GST refunds to in-bound tourism operations, and schools and universities getting fees from foreign students going back to 1986 when GST was introduced. Michael Cullen says there is potentially up to $200 million in revenue at stake, and that those complaining were trying to hold on to money rightfully belonging to Inland Revenue. When GST was introduced it had been intended that the tax apply to foreigners for the goods and services they consumed in New Zealand. The previous government moved to clarify this by amending the law in 1999. The Government is now proposing the clarification be applied back to October 1986 when GST was introduced. People who did not charge GST, or who did and had received a refund from the Inland Revenue Department, would be exempt from the charge.
Smokefree laws to be tightened
The Labour caucus this week approved changes to smoking legislation that include moving cigarette vending machines from public places and the reaches of young people. Other changes to the Smokefree Environment (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill include banning smoking in bars except in enclosed designated areas. There are also provisions in amendments to the bill relating to regulations to make warnings on cigarette packets clearer. These are designed to allow graphic pictorial health warnings, like those introduced in Canada, to be placed on cigarette packets. Labour MP and chairwoman of Parliament's health select committee, Judy Keall, says the Labour caucus has approved the changes included in a supplementary order paper. The paper was tabled in Parliament this week. The Alliance also supports the legislation.
Help for rural schools
Education Minister Trevor Mallard says the Budget will have a commitment of $2.7 million a year to help in administration for small rural schools. Thursday's Budget will allow $1 million to run some more school administration support cluster projects. Mr Mallard says about half the country's small rural schools have already been involved and the extra money will allow more than 100 new schools to participate. The experiences of schools that have taken part in the cluster projects will be used to develop how best to use that funding. The minister says an evaluation report just released showed the clusters had made a difference to principal and board workloads.
Assistance for Tuhoe people
Assistant Social Services Minister Tariana Turia announced on Friday that an Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi, Puao Te Ata Tu, will get $4 million to fund economic and social development. The money will be used to help the Tuhoe people strengthen health, education, housing and child welfare programmes. Five service centres in the isolated Ureweras have been staffed by volunteers, and the government money will be used to establish a management structure and provide research on the community's needs. Tariana Turia says 17 women of Tuhoe and two men approached the Government last year with a plan for development within Tuhoe. It was a plan for Tuhoe, by Tuhoe, the minister said.
