Prime Minister to address State of the World Forum
Prime Minister Helen Clark will deliver the opening address at the State of the World Forum, to be held in New York next week. The week long visit will see New Zealand honoured for its leadership on peace and disarmament at a function hosted by the Hague Appeal for Peace. The Prime Minister will also address the UN Millennium Summit, the biggest ever gathering of world leaders, and speak on 'Women shaping globalisation' to the Forum. She will also be attending the Progressive Governance dinner hosted by Bill Clinton for social democratic leaders, and sign up New Zealand to a number of international treaties including the International Criminal Court treaty. Throughout the week she will hold additional one-on-one meetings with a number of leaders from a range of countries including South Africa, Denmark, Singapore, Ireland, Norway, Indonesia, and Finland.
Shipping review announced
A review into the future of the New Zealand Shipping Industry was announced this week. The review will make strategic recommendations to the government on what could be done to increase New Zealand's participation in shipping and maritime services. The review will be conducted by representatives from various sectors of the shipping industry, including ship owners, shippers, manufacturers and unions. The review team is to report back to the Minister of Transport within three months of its establishment.
Closer Economic Relations
The annual Australia/New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Ministers
meeting took place in Auckland this week. The meeting reviewed progress of CER
since the agreements signing in 1983, and looked into opportunities to further
develop it in the future. The meeting included wide-ranging discussions with the
trans-Tasman business community. The practice of business involvement at these
meetings will be continued in future years.
Climate change policy
New Zealand's domestic climate change policy will focus initially on energy
efficiency measures. The Ministerial Group on Climate Change released Cabinet
papers this week relating to early decisions and directions on a climate change
action plan. Energy efficiency measures can be implemented quickly and they
bring multiple benefits without economic loss. Recent measures improving energy
efficiency include increased funding for public transport and new energy
efficiency requirements in the Building Code. Other early steps include
preparation of public education material on energy efficiency options,
investigation of opportunities for business and economic development arising
from the climate change response, and assessment of gains from waste management
and road transport initiatives already in progress.
Ministers reject merging proposal
The government this week confirmed that border control services will not be
merged following an independent review. The review, undertaken last year,
looked into options for improving efficiencies and effectiveness in border
control services. The review recommended setting up a single quarantine and
customs agency to improve border services. While the government recognises the
need for improved border control it has rejected the proposal saying structural
changes could disrupt existing risk management work done by Customs and
Biosecurity staff and consume precious border control resources. The government
has asked Customs and MAF to investigate closely options for strategic and
operational cooperation, and information and risk assessment.
New Zealand and Australia commit to greater business law integration
The New Zealand and Australian governments this week committed to further
business law integration with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on
Business Law Coordination. The arrangement aims to reduce costs associated with
trans-Tasman business operations. The memorandum includes a specific work
programme covering areas of business law that have potential to provide
substantial benefits to local business from co-ordination. Initiative
objectives include driving business costs down through removing differences in
laws and administrative systems, improving the effectiveness of the law, and
reducing the cost of capital to business.
