Opening your conference provides me, as Associate Minister of Health, with the chance to speak to you about the challenges and opportunities for the home support sector in the context of the Government's fiscal position and the work the Government is doing in the sector.
I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Home Health Association executive, and its chair Trish Neal, and also the NZHAA CEC Julie Haggie.
How the Government will manage overall expenditure
All over the world governments are facing significant financial pressures in health and this will only increase. People are living longer and whatever our age, we all expect better services, modern technologies and new medicines.
To provide some context on the economic environment we're operating in, we are just emerging from the worst global financial crisis in 70 years.
New Zealand used to have large Government surpluses but this week we borrowed $240 million and next week we will borrow another $240 million. We'll do the same every week after that for the next four years - just to keep public services like Health ticking over. Due to economic constraints, new spending across Government across has decreased or been curtailed in some many areas.
This Government has taken the deliberate decision to take a long term view of our country's economic challenge, but we are not cutting back on health investment. We are putting in more funding.
Despite tough economic times, the Government is investing more of the country's resources in Health than ever before. The coming year will see the highest percentage of GDP invested in the public health service in our history.
Last year Vote Health got half of all new government spending. In Budget 2010, an additional $2.1 billion was allocated to Vote Health for investment in health priorities over the next four years - including an extra $512 million of new spending in 2010/11. That means Vote Health has kept pace with inflation and population change and the Government will spend $13.5 billion on Health in 2010/11.
Health spending is now $1.4 billion a year more than when we came into government. The public health service will, however, need to ensure a strong and ongoing focus on value for money, with resources moving from administrative overhead and low priority spending into more important frontline services. And this applies equally to services whether they are being delivered in the hospital or the home.
An ageing population
The increasing demand for your services due to an ageing population is obviously one of the biggest issues your sector faces over the next 10 - 20 years.
We will however have a window to prepare for the effects of population ageing on the health sector, as it is primarily people over 80 who use services intensely.
At present 580,000 New Zealanders are aged 65 or older (13 percent of the population). By 2030, this is projected to rise to over 1 million - an increase of over 85 percent. As you will all know older people have an increased likelihood of ill health and disability. As the number of older people increases in absolute terms and as a proportion of the population, resources will need to shift to support the needs of this group.
When looking at the health needs of older people, there is a continued objective to improve community-based care services and the continuum of care for older people as part of a vision of high quality and sustainable services into the future.
Better Sooner More Convenient
One of the Government's goals is to provide New Zealanders with better access to a wider range of services closer to home.
A major driver of this is the Government's Better Sooner, More Convenient primary care initiative which is seeing Primary Health Organisations and District Health Boards work together to enhance care for their communities.
They are developing new ways of working across a broader range of services and include a focus on the frail elderly.
Improved primary care is likely to reduce some of the triggers for entry into acute hospital and/or residential care. This is part of a prudent strategy to begin developing health system capacity for the future demographic and to reduce financial pressures on the health system.
Two issues I know you are interested in are pay rates for support workers and mandatory minimum standards for the industry. The New Zealand Home Health Association notes home support workers are a low-paid workforce and there are concerns around training and adequate compensation for travel costs.
In recent years there have been Government interventions to help improve the home support workforce. The Ministry of Health's home support prices, which have been geared towards improving support worker wages and conditions, have grown by about 30 percent in the past five years The Ministry is also investing around $4 million in 2010/11 - up from $2.2 million in 2009/10 - in workforce development initiatives.
Two of the key initiatives are:
The NZHHA is also seeking a single mandated standard for the sector to protect clients from substandard care.
Although home support services do not fall under the legislative framework of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001, the sector has developed a voluntary standard and compliance with the Standard is required in ACC and Ministry of Health contracts, and a number of DHB contracts. Effectively it should mean the majority of providers are required to meet the Standard.
However, it is in everyone's interests to ensure people are getting a good level of care and support so the New Zealand Home Health Association, Standards New Zealand, ACC, and the Ministry of Health have established a joint initiative to undertake a review. This recognises that over the past seven years there have been significant changes to models of service delivery and in the particular services being provided.
Home Support Expenditure
The care of elderly people, and specifically their level of home support, has received a lot of media coverage over the past few months. It's been reported that DHBs are cutting the level of home support for the elderly when it's important to note that across all DHBs the number of older people receiving DHB funded home support had continued to increase in recent years and overall DHBs are budgeting to spend more on home care in 2010/11 than in 2009/10.
DHB expenditure on home support services has grown from about $110 million in 2004/05 to about $230 million in 2009/10.
This year, around 75,000 mostly older people have received home support. In 2004/05 there were approximately 58,000 older people receiving home support services.
Some DHBs are reviewing their home support services using a method that was introduced by the previous government.
The Health Minister has sought assurance from DHB chairs that people who really need domestic support get it and DHBs have been meeting with all providers and people involved to explain the review changes and what they would mean for elderly with exceptional circumstances. DHB chairs have given him that assurance.
We are committed to spending money on the people who have been assessed as having the greatest need.
New Model of funding disability support for younger people
The Ministry is also developing a new model for supporting disabled people who receive Ministry funded support. There will be significant implications over time for providers and services.
Key characteristics of the new model - which are to be tested later this year include:
I am sure that you will have many robust conversations on the challenges and opportunities for the home support sector over the course of this conference.
There are a diverse range of speakers from across the industry covering many topical issues which will provide thought-provoking sessions over the next two days.
Thank you.
It is an honour to be here at the 8th Annual conference of the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders and the first such conference to be held here in New Zealand. This move is timely, as much-needed progress has recently been made here to improve our eating disorders services in New Zealand.
I know you’re interested to hear about those changes, particularly on those here in Auckland. First though I think it’s important to remember what the environment for eating disorders in New Zealand has been like just to place into context the improvement made in a relatively short period.
In 2007, the Mental Health Commission undertook a stock take of mental health services, including eating disorders services. The Commission found that there were considerable problems with access to eating disorders services, evidenced by a lack of beds and long waiting lists. There were also next to no inpatient or residential care for people seriously ill with eating disorders in the Northern region.
As you all know eating disorders are complex and encompass a range of conditions that have overlapping psychiatric and medical symptoms. The impact on the individual and their family is immense.
Mortality rates for eating disorders are high and around 1.7 percent of New Zealanders suffer from the illness. Having to seek treatment overseas would only serve to compound the situation and it’s estimated more than 20 people have been sent to Sydney for treatment since 2007 due to the lack of facilities in New Zealand.
One of those people was an 18-year-old whose plight was reported in last Saturday’s Weekend Herald. Two years ago she was eating only half a grapefruit a day, had lost 10kg in two weeks and at the height of her illness she weighed only 33.7kg. She was referred to the local eating disorder service here in Auckland, but due to a three-month waitlist and the seriousness of her condition, she was sent to Sydney for treatment where she and her mother spent four and half months. Thankfully today she’s making progress and her weight has almost doubled.
But while we appreciate the support of our Australian colleagues and the quality of the services provided, the situation was less than ideal for her and other young Kiwis and their families in the same situation. People need the support of loved ones close to home when they are going through a deeply difficult time.
This is why, last month, the government was pleased to announce further progress for providing a new regional eating disorders service in the top half of the North Island.
Auckland DHB has contracted Challenge Trust to set up a residential treatment facility and day programme by the end of the year. The new services have been funded from an extra $26 million over four years that this government announced last year to improve eating disorder services nationwide.
Starship hospital established five new dedicated beds for children under-15 years with eating disorders last year as part of this extra funding. Challenge Trust’s new facility will eventually include up to nine residential beds available for older adolescents and adults and will provide a home-like environment for patients, where they can spend time with their families.
The Auckland Regional Eating Disorders Service, working with these services, will act as a hub for service provision for patients from the Northern and Midland regions.
While recent attention has been rightly directed toward developing in-patient and residential services here in Auckland, it is important to acknowledge that community-based services continue to provide the range of interventions that are essential to effective delivery of a continuum of care for eating disorders patients across the country.
Of the $26 million, around 80% has been allocated to improving services in the Northern and Midland regions as these were the regions with the least well developed services. The remainder of the funding is being spread across the country and is providing other regions with extra and invaluable resources.
In the Central region new funding has been allocated to provide improved access to paediatric in-patient services for children and young people. The Central region has an existing six bed residential service and day programme in Johnsonville, near Wellington.
In the Southern region new funding has been allocated to provide additional community eating disorders clinicians in Nelson Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago Southland. Canterbury DHB has an existing seven-bed eating disorders in-patient unit serving the southern region.
The additional funding will result in people having greater access to care and support across the country which is a significant improvement for the sector.
The economic backdrop
To provide some more context to the situation, we are just emerging from the worst global financial crisis in 70 years. New Zealand used to have large Government surpluses but this week we borrowed $240 million and next week we will borrow another $240 million. We'll do the same every week after that for the next four years – just to keep public services like Health ticking over.
Due to the economic constraints we continue to face, new spending across Government across has decreased or been curtailed in some many areas.
In areas that impact heavily on peoples’ lives however, the Government has provided funding increases and Health is the biggest single item of new operating spending in Budget 2010 – up $512 million to $13.5 billion in 2010/11.
Health spending is now $1.4 billion a year more than when we came into government. An additional $2.1 billion is being invested in health priorities over the next four years.
Of that District Health Boards will directly receive $1.4 billion extra over four years, and will also receive a large share of the extra funding going to targeted initiatives. Mental health funding increases by $40 million over the next four years and DHBs are expected to allocate $174 million from the new funding to mental health.
So while there will be a constant need to review where money is most effectively spent, and that will result in some reprioritisation across the sector, there is more money going into health than ever before. The problem here is that costs in health grow at a faster rate than our national income.
The hub and spoke model
So given the difficult economic situation, we have to make targeted and intelligent use of the resources we have – which is what the hub and spoke model can offer.
This model also provides support closer to home for patients and their families.
In New Zealand, the hubs of care provision will be in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. The most specialised care will be provided in these centres.
Through regular contact, strong relationships and smart use of technology, specialists will be able to support primary and secondary eating disorders services throughout New Zealand.
In Health, the aim is to facilitate clinical support by specialist clinicians in large regional centres (hubs) to clinicians in generic secondary services and, when appropriate, primary care in smaller provincial centres (spokes).
The ultimate aim must be to provide the best service and level of support for patients and their families in what is a very difficult time.
In 2007, the Mental Health Foundation found a lack of co-ordination between different mental health services for people with eating disorders – a finding echoed throughout the sector. An integrated approach through the hub and spoke model will directly address this issue.
Integrated care
To work, the model needs effective formal and informal relationships between each hub and its associated spokes. This includes regular structured supervision and training combined with ad hoc consultation and liaison support when it is needed.
Such an approach is most effective when an individual in the spoke service has a dedicated co-ordination role, often in conjunction with a local ‘virtual team’ (including in some cases primary care clinicians). Team members often have a clinical interest and experience in the specialty. Closer relationships between clinicians can build closer relationships between services and a better path for patients through the varying aspects of their care.
Beyond hubs and spokes we know that within services across primary, secondary and tertiary care, multi-disciplinary teams are required to address the complexity of eating disorders treatment and associated co-morbid conditions.
This means that practitioners from medical, nursing, dietetics, psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy and other disciplines all need to be skilled at working together. I commend ANZAED’s open and multi-disciplinary approach, reflected in your conference programme.
Clinical leadership
It is also why clinical leadership is so important to this government. In March last year, we issued a significant document called 'In Good Hands' to help district health boards introduce greater clinical leadership into the public health system. Globally, clinical leadership is recognised as a fundamental driver of a better health service. We had heard countless stories of clinicians feeling ignored and disengaged.
As clinicians, your involvement in the further development of eating disorders services is critical. If the system is to focus on the patient we need to know what those providing care day in and day out have to say.
I am aware that at times managers and clinicians have not engaged collaboratively like we would hope. It is also worth acknowledging that there are competing visions of how best to do things and that meeting the needs of different stakeholders is sometimes challenging.
What we need is robust debate, productive engagement and partnership between funders, managers and clinicians that focuses on both fiscal discipline and clinical best practice. We also need a system that allows clinicians to be centrally involved in decisions about service configuration.
Eating disorders are complex. We all know that there are often co-morbid disorders that are present alongside eating disorders. We also know that the mortality rates for eating disorders are high. Patients and families struggle through confusing and difficult times.
It would help if services were easy for them to navigate. We have made progress to bring patient care closer to home and to provide better coverage and integration of services. But things can always be better. We need your ideas, and your input into how to make the path through treatment as smooth and effective as possible.
We also need the research evidence and clinical experience such as will be presented at this conference to inform our understanding of best practice as we deliver eating disorders services. Patients deserve nothing less. I hope you enjoy the next few days and have many thought-provoking conversations with your colleagues.
Thank you.
I had the privilege over the last week to attend two thought provoking events here on the North Shore.
The first was a memorial service held for Otto van Groen, widely regarded as the father of the modern New Zealand Hospitality Industry. Otto was truly a trailblazer and a visionary. He turned his attentions to multiple projects over the course of a varied life.
Perhaps the battle for which he is best known was the fundamental reform of New Zealand’s licensing laws. When Otto opened his fine dining restaurant The Gourmet in central Auckland you couldn’t enjoy a glass of wine with a meal in a restaurant. It seems incredible now. After a sustained national campaign that ran for nearly a decade, Otto received the first restaurant liquor licence in 1961.
Otto had a huge influence in introducing New Zealanders to the sophisticated tastes of Europe. He was also massively influential in the meat export industry, promoting the export of specialist cuts of meat, rather than just whole carcasses. This opened up new markets for New Zealand and increased our export earnings.
In the last decade of his life, Otto turned his attention to opening North Shore International Academy Hospitality School in Albany, servicing the international student market. It is an outstanding facility, with 900 students enrolled. Its graduates go on to roles at the very best hospitality establishments both here and overseas.
Otto van Groen combined a passion for food and hospitality with outstanding entrepreneurial flair and vision. He used that combination to brilliantly nurture the New Zealand restaurant, meat export and ultimately export education markets. He made a major contribution to our country. Most importantly of all, he was a person who was very clearly loved.
The second event I had the privilege of attending was the opening of The Cedar Centre, the new church for the Anglican Church in Beach Haven and Birkdale.
This has been a fantastic ten year project that has resulted in a centre that will serve the whole community. It is going to be utilised for six days of the week as a community facility and on Sundays as a Church. It will provide a focus for activities such as counselling, mothers groups and after school care. Vicar Lorraine Lloyd and her husband Peter really drove the vision and many parishioners and people in the community helped make that vision a reality. It’s a wonderful facility that provides a real community hub for Birkdale and Beach Haven. It’s been achieved against considerable financial odds.
So, two very different events, but each inspiring. The common theme was vision and the translation of that vision into something tangible. Two very impressive and thought provoking occasions.
Currently I’m surveying the Northcote Electorate. I’ve sent out 15,000 postcards by mail asking people the following questions:
Do you favour changing the purchase age for alcohol?
o Yes, raise it to 20
o No, keep it 18
o Split age: 18 for licensed premises, 20 for off-licence purchases
o Not sure- I’d like more information
Do you agree that the Budget changes will produce a fairer tax system?
o Yes, we need a change
o I’m happy with what we’ve got
o Not sure
What are the three key areas you want me to focus on as your MP?
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
3. ________________________________________
Name:
Email:
If you haven’t received a postcard, live in the Northcote electorate and would like to express a view, please send me an email at northcote@parliament.govt.nz.
Feel free to pass this on to any other locals who you think may be interested!
Conference Chair, Alun Chisholm, Association Chair Coral Wong, ladies and gentlemen
Over the past two years, the immigration adviser community has transformed itself from a fragmented industry delivering services of uneven quality into a potent professional grouping defined by high service standards.
On 4 May this year, mandatory licensing was extended to immigration advisers based outside of New Zealand. This is a significant event and marks a new era for your industry and for Immigration New Zealand.
The New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment is in a unique position to support this government's objective to position Immigration to build New Zealand's prosperity.
Policy context of economic growth
Economic growth is crucial to New Zealand's future prosperity. Immigration can support economic growth by targeting those migrants who can add skills, innovation and capital to the economy.
Your industry has a valuable part to play in this - it can help translate government policy into concrete commercial results.
The facts speak for themselves - one in four workers in New Zealand is a migrant. Over the past five years 60% of New Zealand's workforce growth came from temporary and permanent migrants. And today, even as we continue to recover from the recession, we are facing ongoing skill shortages that will almost certainly need to be filled from overseas.
This Government has already put in place policies which target these migrants and make New Zealand a more attractive place to live.
The Government's May tax package was the biggest reform of the tax system in 25 years. The changes will help boost economic growth and make New Zealand a far more attractive destination for skilled migrants and for business investment.
High earning New Zealanders and migrants are now looking forward to lower marginal tax rates and fewer and lower overall taxes. Our company tax rate is now lower than Australia's and personal tax rates are internationally attractive. By international standards, our tax regime is also remarkably simple and transparent.
Business incentives have also been improved. As mentioned already, the new company tax rate of 28% is better than Australia's and very competitive by international standards.
To help attract business, this Government is committed to ensuring that its policies accelerate rather than inhibit business development. This impetus is also reflected in recent changes to immigration policy.
Last year we announced a new business migration package, targeting migrants who want to both live in New Zealand and invest in or set up a business here.
These new policies were designed to make it easier for entrepreneurs to invest here and create more jobs for New Zealanders. Since the introduction of the new business migration package just a year ago:
That's close to $300 million of new investment funding that could potentially make its way into the New Zealand economy very soon.
As with any new policy, there have been some minor teething problems. Compare this, however, to the 2007 - 2009 policy - only eight people transferred funds totalling $60 million in two years. I think you'll agree that we are headed in the right direction.
I note the chair of the NZAMI was quoted in the NZ Herald last week regarding the business migration package. She said the Entrepreneur Plus scheme makes it more difficult for business migrants to gain residency compared to the old scheme. Ms Wong also said New Zealand's funds transfer policy - which did not recognise any other means of funds transfer other than bank-to-bank - was deterring many would-be investors, especially from Asia.
Given the misconceptions swirling around on both these issues, I feel it's important to put the facts out there.
Entrepreneur Plus is an add-on - a quick route to residence to people who fulfil the criteria up-front. It's not a barrier to residing in New Zealand, it's actually an additional path for migrants to take.
On the funds transfer issue we know how important China is to our country. It's our second-biggest trading partner and an important source of business migrants.
However the Chinese Government has rules in place which makes it difficult for its citizens to transfer money out of the country using bank-to-bank transfers. We are looking into this issue with the Chinese Government and want a scheme that works for both countries
Briefly, it's important to remember why bank-to-bank transfers were introduced. Before 2005 there was a lack of transparency and legitimacy regarding the flow of funds into New Zealand. That exposed us to fraud and money-go-rounds.
Using bank-to-bank transfers ensures the source of funds is legitimate and transparent and maintains the integrity of our immigration service. That's something I make no apologies for.
The business migration policies are due to be reviewed later this year. This provides an opportunity to make any improvements that will enhance the pulling power of our Business Migration policies. Getting the policy settings right is not an exact science and there will always be trade offs between settings that attract quantity of applicants versus those that bring in the quality of skills and investment that we are seeking.
To consolidate the early successes of the business migration package and develop further commercial opportunities, Immigration New Zealand's business migration team continues to work closely with agencies such as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Economic Development Agencies New Zealand, Rugby World Cup 2011 and a wide range of private sector investment agencies.
Another area this Government is committed to is promoting New Zealand to highly skilled migrants.
The new Silver Fern policies, aimed at bringing highly skilled young people to New Zealand, opened in April 2010. The initial quota of 300 filled within 30 minutes. While its success will be measured by how many of these potential skilled migrants transfer through to the Silver Fern Practical Experience policy and to the Skilled Migrant Category, the initial interest in New Zealand is certainly a positive sign. So far, almost a quarter of migrants approved under this policy have had postgraduate qualifications.
In March 2010, I introduced the Temporary Retirement and Parent Retirement categories. These policies are aimed at attracting people of retirement age who will make a significant contribution to New Zealand's economic growth. Already several applications have been made under these categories.
The previous Government talked about immigration as an economic driver - a tool to help grow the economy - but they never came up with a cohesive plan to deliver it.
This Government is delivering a strategic direction for immigration that supports economic growth. We are attracting more capital through our Business Migration Package and we are attracting high-worth and highly skilled migrants through our new visas and permits.
We've made changes to the export education sector and created a more flexible environment which allows short-term students to enrol on more courses. Further work is also underway on creating better pathways for students who study in New Zealand.
We are also focussing on better matching immigration to the needs of employers - helping them get the right staff when they need them.
The direction and plan for immigration to optimise New Zealand's economic prosperity is in place.
Economic and social goals are mutually supportive. Immigration brings new people into the workforce and communities, with social impacts on both migrants and host communities. Positive social outcomes result in positive economic outcomes, and vice versa.
In spite of the global economic downturn, the market for skilled migrants remains keenly competitive. We still face strong competition from countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States and Germany. This competition will intensify as the world economy moves out of recession.
It is important that when we think about attracting migrants we have a coherent strategy and view it as an end to end process; from attracting potential migrants, employers and sectors in need of skills recruiting them, and ensuring that they settle well in New Zealand. We should focus on migrants that have the skills and capital to help grow and build the economy. The challenge is to match those interested with opportunities in New Zealand and facilitate them through the immigration process.
We need to look at this end to end process and what role government and the private sector might play in it. The linkages are crucial and there is the opportunity for licensed immigration advisers to play a key role.
Part of this process involves a review of the pathways to work and residence for international students and it is underway. This review aims to increase the employability of international students who are seeking to transition to work and residence, to ensure New Zealand employers have better access to the skills they need to innovate and grow.
A review of the SMC Work to Residence policy and settlement and contribution assessment in the SMC is also underway. This review aims to ensure that applicants who come to New Zealand have realistic expectations and that the settlement and contribution assessment in the SMC is fair and transparent.
I anticipate that further policy reviews, including the capped family policies, will take place in the medium term to ensure that immigration is delivering the migrants that New Zealand needs.
The implementation of the new Immigration Act will help deliver the migrants we need and the Act was a major focus in 2009/2010 and will be again in 2010/2011 as we move towards a 28 November general commencement date. Immigration New Zealand is looking forward to updating advisers on how the Act will modernise and future proof our immigration system. I understand this will take place around September or October this year.
Collectively, these projects form part of a coordinated approach that will ensure that immigration supports this Government's economic growth agenda.
Service Delivery enhancements
While it is important that our immigration policies focus on economic growth, they can only do this if we also get service delivery right. One of my immediate priority areas is to overhaul Immigration New Zealand's service delivery.
It is crucial to New Zealand and to your businesses that Immigration New Zealand makes consistent, good quality decisions and that it makes them in a timely manner. Backlogs in branches, such as have happened in student processing, are not acceptable if we are to remain internationally competitive.
I am therefore working closely with the Department of Labour to address Immigration New Zealand's immediate operational needs. This means removing choke points in the system, removing unnecessary business processes, lifting quality and improving customer satisfaction.
People are of course at the centre of any successful organisation and work is underway to improve the capability of staff, their leadership and the culture that informs their work. To realise their full potential, immigration staff need to be supported by sound business processes and effective management structures.
Work is being done on the fundamentals of application processing, to ensure we have consistent processes from the beginning to end in the application life cycle, in all Immigration branches around the world. Common processes that provide robust assessment while simplifying administrative requirements.
Part of these new processes will include a new operating environment for licensed immigration advisers. Significant productivity gains will be made if Immigration New Zealand better utilises the skills and knowledge of licensed immigration advisers.
A specific recommendation is to consolidate applications from licensed advisers at a single branch. Department of Labour officials will be entering discussions with representatives from your organisation in the next few weeks to ensure that this proposal, and any others that have merit, are developed in partnership with you. Implementation of these new processes are planned for early 2011. This will assist to streamline Immigration New Zealand's processes and strengthen the relationships between INZ staff and immigration advisers.
We need to ensure there is a trusted partner relationship between Immigration New Zealand and licensed advisors. Frontline immigration officers should be able to trust the skills and knowledge of licensed immigration advisers and vice versa. This platform of trust will enable better and faster outcomes for our shared customers.
The improvement in Immigration New Zealand's customer service and operational processes needs to be matched by a significant improvement in the consistency of the visa and permit decisions made across Immigration New Zealand. A programme is already underway to improve the quality of decisions made.
I must also stress that while Immigration New Zealand needs to improve their operational processes and meet targets, this has to be balanced against maintaining the integrity of our immigration system.
That means managing risk and meeting core policy and process requirements in all cases-in other words "good" decision-making across the board.
Immigration New Zealand is also looking at the tools it needs to do the job. This includes the implementation of the new Immigration Act and the development of a new ICT system. Work is already underway to provide a modern, flexible and fit-for-purpose immigration ICT system that incorporates the latest advances in computer technology.
The new system will enable Immigration New Zealand to take advantage of recent developments in biometrics and better align its processing systems with partner agencies across the globe.
To make our immigration policies work it is vital that we have experienced staff on the ground in key markets.
South Africa is an important source for skilled migrants and I am aware that many of the companies represented here today have done extensive marketing in South Africa and made regular visits there.
As you will know, a new Immigration New Zealand Branch was opened in Pretoria on 1 July. All African temporary entry and residence work will be gradually transferred from the London Branch over the next year. This is a major milestone in servicing this market.
You will also know that plans are also on track to open a second Immigration New Zealand Branch in Mumbai by the end of 2010. This will relieve the enormous pressure on our New Delhi Branch and enable Immigration New Zealand to better meet the growing demand in the Indian student market.
Benefits of offshore licensing
Domestically, the industry has established a powerful brand that provides prospective migrants and Immigration New Zealand with the certainty that they are dealing with licensed professionals who conform to a uniform set of industry standards. It now has the opportunity to extend the power of that brand into offshore markets.
Immigration New Zealand no longer accepts applications from unlicensed immigration advisers and people who are not exempt. This has enormous potential for your industry and for the development of the New Zealand economy.
With the shoddy operators out of the market, business will be driven to licensed advisers.
I also understand that around 200 offshore advisers have been licensed so far. This confirms that the value of licensing is now recognised outside of New Zealand. It confirms the value of your brand - a brand that will continue to increase in value. I would like to acknowledge the good work of the Immigration Adviser's Authority in the licensing of advisers and I'm sure their relationship with the sector will continue to help strengthen the industry.
The licensing of advisers provides valuable guarantees for prospective migrants and strengthens the New Zealand brand internationally. This is good for New Zealand and good for your industry. The establishment of the licensed immigration advisers' brand overseas also extends the reach of your industry.
This will enable your industry to develop new markets and commercial relationships. These developments show how the adoption of mandatory licensing has released the full commercial potential of the immigration adviser industry.
This is largely attributable to the leadership of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment. Your association's leadership has transformed mandatory licensing from concept to reality.
This Government knows immigration can help drive New Zealand's economic growth agenda and we're on the right track. I'd also like to thank the work you all do in this vital area and I'm confident we will continue to see strong progress.
Thank you.
For long term followers of Northcote rugby, Saturday afternoon at North Harbour Stadium was one of the sweetest ever. Twenty years after last winning the Premier Club Championship, Northcote emerged once again as club champions, defeating a spirited North Shore side that never gave up.
It really was the perfect afternoon for a final – unseasonably warm, even hot, with a firm surface underfoot. The match itself was a cracker, with Northcote right from the start looking the winner, although North Shore gave them a serious fright 15 minutes from the end with a comeback surge of points.
What was really fantastic about the day was the depth of passion on the field and in the stands. Both clubs have long proud histories and were well supported. Take nothing away from North Shore – a great club and great people.
But you could sense from early on it was Northcote’s day. The stand was packed with people in maroon and gold in anticipation that after 20 years, and a few ups and downs over the past year or so, ‘Cote’s time had come again.
And so it was as Northcote triumphed 28-18. I can’t remember ever seeing a team and its supporters so joyously thrilled to have won a championship. It was fantastic stuff.
The Northcote Clubrooms were absolutely packed afterwards as the team led by their inspirational skipper Richard Mayhew arrived with the trophy and were cheered in.
Everyone was there – from the junior players still in their maroon and gold jerseys, to the faithful band of old-timers (I know I’ll get in trouble for that term!) who can be found at the back of the stand at Harvey Wright Field week after week, year after year.
Northcote have had a superb season and this is a very special team that blended some awesome individual talent with a great team ethic. Richard Mayhew was absolutely crucial to success and a natural leader. Mike Harris at first five is a guy who you always feel is in control of a game and can slot the crucial goals. The side had a top management team and Ian Selwyn and Gary Whetton deserve the highest praise.
Yet there were others behind Saturday’s success. Northcote has an extremely dedicated band of people keeping the club going at all levels. As at every successful club, there have been thousands of hours of unpaid volunteer work over many years. Northcote has a thriving junior rugby set up, which will hopefully produce future premier players. Indeed, many of those Northcote premiers who won on Saturday came through the junior grades.
Premiership titles don’t come out of nowhere – when a team gets to the top, it reflects an outstanding club culture that is built at all levels over many years. Northcote rugby has that culture and the rewards were reaped on Saturday.
So congratulations Northcote. It was a great day that made a lot of people very happy. Go the ’Cote!
Thank you Judi for the introduction and for inviting me here today to be part of the launch of the Mental Health Foundation's latest research, "Walk a Mile in Our Shoes", Hē tuara, ngā tapuwae tuku iho ō nga Mātua Tūpuna.
I want to acknowledge the Mental Health Foundation for producing this piece of research. This is the fourth time that the Foundation has published research for the Like Minds programme. These reports have been significant landmarks in our understanding of stigma and discrimination and, what is more important, on how to challenge them. I am sure that "Walk a Mile in Our Shoes" will have the same impact.
We are indebted to the authors, Dr Heather Barnett and Alex Barnes, for the dedicated way they have built such a thorough methodology and ensured that the voices of the participants have been represented in the final publication. I'd also like to thank all of those who supported the research, including Foundation staff, peer reviewers and supporting organisations.
But most of all, I would like to thank the 85 research participants who generously gave their time, and their insights, into what is often the hardest times they and their families have experienced. To face the challenges you have all faced needs courage and determination.
To share your journey and insights with the researchers and focus groups, so that people going through similar circumstances might learn from your experience, is a significant contribution to what we are all trying to achieve, and I thank you.
The Like Minds, Like Mine programme to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness has been running for 13 years now. All of us here will know of the many groundbreaking achievements made in that time.
Research into changing attitudes and behaviour has shown us that Like Minds, Like Mine has been successful in changing attitudes to mental illness. We are beginning to see more positive media coverage and more discussion about mental illness and, most importantly, we are hearing the voices of people and their families who have experienced mental illness.
Like Minds, Like Mine has encouraged people to support each other, to step forward and make a difference.
This has meant addressing the fear that people have about mental illness using high profile TV and radio advertisements, and, through the tireless efforts of numerous organisations to challenge the stigma of mental illness in communities across the country.
We know how important this work is. Reducing stigma and discrimination means that people with mental illness are more likely to recover full social, family and economic participation. We also know that if we can reduce stigma and discrimination, then people are more likely to seek help and to be supported by those around them.
"Walk a Mile in Our Shoes" provides further insight into stigma and discrimination and builds on the work of "Fighting Shadows" launched in 2008. "Fighting Shadows" showed how negative attitudes could hinder recovery for those experiencing mental illness. This new research tells us more about the nature of discrimination both within and towards families, and also describes ways in which this discrimination can be addressed.
Our families and whānau can give us the strongest support. They know who we are and how we behave. They know many of our life experiences. They also have the potential to hurt us deeply. Family members who experience mental illness need respect, they need hope and to make decisions about their own lives. They need to be listened to by the people who are closest to them.
However, these needs are not confined to the person with experience of mental illness. Families and whānau need these things too. It can be frightening for a loved one to not understand what is happening and how to help them and there can often be feelings of guilt, confusion and shame.
"Walk a Mile in Our Shoes" highlights the potential for mental health services to play a positive role by recognising the unique dynamics and support needs of the families and whānau of those who experience mental illness.
The research shows that healthy families and whānau are crucial for reducing the discrimination and hardship faced by people experiencing mental illness.
The aims of the research are closely linked to the next phase of the Like Minds media campaign. From 8 August this year, we will be seeing and hearing stories from friends, families and whānau of people who have experienced mental illness.
We will see people in the TV advertisements speak with those who have supported them and they will talk about mental illness, recovery and the central role that their relationship has played. The advertisements challenge us all to be there for our whānau, and to stay involved. Be there. Stay involved is the tagline for the advertisements.
We know that the earlier we can provide support to someone experiencing mental distress, the better the outcomes will be. For this reason it is essential that primary care is supported and we have made a significant commitment to improving primary health care to ensure the provision of high quality primary and specialist mental health services to support patients who present with mental health problems in primary care.
Funding for primary mental health services has progressively increased to $27.8 million in 2009/10. This funding continues to support improved outcomes for patients presenting with mild to moderate mental health problems in primary care.
The Government also increased funding for mental health services in this year's Budget by $40 million over the next four years. It is expected DHBs will allocate $174 million in mental health from the new $1.4 billion that DHBs are to receive.
Over the past 18 months we have seen solid improvements in the delivery of mental health services across a range of areas. I'd like to outline a couple this evening.
In 2008 there was a gap in the provision of eating disorder services, especially in the Northern Region, with some families having to send families to Sydney for treatment.
Last year the Government provided an additional $26 million to improve eating disorder services across New Zealand - this has resulted in 15 extra beds and more staff across the country to improve residential care for patients. This includes the establishment of five new dedicated beds at Starship hospital for children under 15 years.
The provision of relapse and prevention plans for mental health services users and their families is also increasing. These plans identify the community supports a person can draw on and what they can do for themselves. Relapse prevention planning has been shown to be a key component in reducing acute admissions for long-term service users.
At the end of 2008, seven DHBs had met or exceeded a target that 90 percent of long-term mental health service users should a have a relapse plan, By the end of 2009, 13 DHBs had met or exceeded the target.
Access rates for mental health and addiction services have also increased across all age and ethnic groups. The percentage of total clients accessing mental health and addiction services has increased from 2.2% in 2002 to 2.7% in 2009.
The Government is also working to establish multidisciplinary primary care environments, such as Integrated Family Health Centres, so that people can get the help they need right away. We want a more patient-centred approach. By giving staff like doctors and nurses the supports they need to interact with people, we expect that mental health issues will be identified early and addressed much sooner.
We want primary care to respond effectively to people experiencing mental illness and to their families. "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" provides some good insights into how Integrated Family Health Centres can deliver mental health services more effectively.
We know that one of the biggest barriers to recovery continues to be discrimination. That's why championing respect, rights and equality for people with mental illness remains every bit as important as providing the best treatment. And that is why providing family support is crucial now and into the future.
"Walk a Mile in Our Shoes" reinforces that, positive relationships are needed to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. I am proud to be here today to launch this research, which continues to add insight and depth to how we understand discrimination faced by people with mental illness.
Tēnā koutou katoa.
It is both a pleasure and an honour to be here today to launch Phase Two of the National Depression Initiative. As New Zealanders, one out of six of us will experience serious depression at some stage in our lives, and still more of us face less severe forms of depression, much of which is long-term.
Depression is one of the leading causes of preventable illness and it carries a huge cost for both those who experience it, as well as their families and whānau. The link between depression and suicide is well established. This is why we have to work hard to minimise its harmful effects.
I am particularly excited to be launching The Journal, an innovative new online self management programme that is both user-friendly and evidence-based. It brings together the considerable creative talents of many New Zealanders - internet designers, film-makers, writers, researchers, e-therapy experts, mental health professionals, and of course, a very famous and well-loved rugby player, John Kirwan.
The result of 18 months of work, The Journal will be available free to any New Zealander with access to a computer, to help them through the difficulties that they are facing.
The National Depression Initiative is strongly linked to the Like Minds, Like Mine programme and as stigma and discrimination associated with mental health is reduced, more people step forward to seek help.
John Kirwan was part of the Like Minds campaign before he put himself forward for the National Depression Initiative (NDI) campaign. No doubt his involvement in Phase Two of the NDI will continue to encourage those that need help to access effective treatment. At the same time, he presents realistic options for self-management of mild to moderate depression.
We know from our research that New Zealanders continue to look to John Kirwan for guidance and inspiration in this area. John will be the face and voice of both television ads and The Journal to coach New Zealanders through hard times in their lives.
JK has been groundbreaking in taking shame and stigma out of dealing with depression for many New Zealanders. While he could not be here in person today, he must be recognised for giving New Zealanders, and particularly men, permission to talk about and get help for depression.
I would like to take a moment to thank some of the other people who have devoted valuable time and expertise to Phase Two.
Psychiatrists Dr Simon Hatcher and Dr Lyndy Matthews, and psychologist Elliot Bell co-present The Journal with JK. Their time in front of the camera and behind the development of the programme has been an invaluable contribution to making Phase Two work. Dr Hatcher in particular has lent his considerable expertise in Problem Solving Therapy to the content of The Journal.
The Journal is more than an online management programme. Lifeline Aotearoa have developed and will provide optional personalised support to ensure the clinical safety of people who visit the Journal.
I would also like to thank all the 55 people who gave their time to take part in the research and pre-testing, and their GPs, who referred them. Feedback from this research has been invaluable in refining the programme and improving its user-friendliness.
This Government is committed to being effective, and that means we need to test what we will spend our limited resources on. The results from the pre-tests are showing that our investment is a wise one.
Many other people have given their support and expertise to make the next phase of the National Depression Initiative engaging and effective – and I thank them for their contribution.
The National Depression Initiative has now reached its next phase with the launch of The Journal.
People can access it from www.depression.org.nz. It’s been designed for people with mild to moderate depression, but is available to anyone and is completely free of charge. The programme features tasks for physical activity, good nutrition, sleep, and problem-solving. People using The Journal will receive reminder texts during the programme to help them through it.
International evidence tells us that not many people complete e-therapy programmes – usually around a third of people who start them actually finish and get the benefit. That’s why we are providing technical and personalised support for the Journal, provided by a new team at Lifeline Aotearoa. Practical help will be given to support people to continue with the programme or to seek further professional help if they need it.
Three new television advertisements will go to air on 6 June 2010 featuring John Kirwan to promote self-help and make sure that everyone knows about The Journal.
The Government wants the work it does to be proven and effective. Results from pre-testing phase two initiatives are promising.
The pre-test results of The Journal showed that only a quarter of the 55 people with depression involved in the pre-test decided not to complete the programme.
People like the self-help approach. They appreciate the chance to stay anonymous and the convenience of visiting The Journal by themselves and in their own time.
A total of 81 percent of pre-test participants felt that they were helped “a lot” or “somewhat” over the last few weeks of the programme – and this is the most challenging part. The Journal was found to be “helpful” or “very helpful” by all those who completed it, and all of those people would recommend it to others.
These pre-test results bode well for The Journal. A robust 32-month evaluation will begin in November this year, so we can find out the long-term effectiveness of the programme. I will be following the evaluation results with a great deal of interest.
Close
I have worked as a GP and know well the importance of reducing the stigma associated with mental illness, and encouraging people to seek help for mental health problems.
Early, appropriate intervention is needed if we are going to see the change we want to see happen. Reaching people who are struggling early makes them less likely to need hospital treatment– it also helps them respond better to all forms of help available.
It’s vital that we take effective action to combat the damage that depression can have on our lives, and the lives of our friends and families. Mental health is one of the key health concerns facing Governments, not just in New Zealand, but across the world.
We have made a lot of progress in changing the unacceptable stigma that has been attached to depression and other mental illness and this work still continues.
I am optimistic about the good work being done to ease the burden of depression. I am proud to be able to launch to new Journal. Thank you.
You’ve probably already read and heard a lot about last week’s Budget.
Given Budget Day’s always the most important day of the year for a government there’s bound to be loads of coverage and this year was no exception.
There’s a good reason for that – through changes to the tax system, Budget 2010 will leave the vast majority of New Zealanders better off with the average family getting around an extra $25 a week.
The tax system will also be fairer with across-the-board personal tax cuts offsetting the rise in GST meaning low, middle and high income groups will receive broadly similar proportionate increases in disposable income.
Other key points about the Budget are that it focuses on lifting long-term economic growth, boosting incomes, raising living standards and getting kiwi families ahead.
For many of us living in the Northcote electorate, the Budget will have a really positive impact.
The reform of the tax system, the biggest in 25 years, provides incentives for people to get ahead and personal tax rates will be cut from 1 October.
Around 90 percent of people in the Northcote electorate will now pay 17.5 per cent rate or less on all their income.
What’s more, since March 2009 the marginal rate of income tax faced by taxpayers earning between $40,000 and $48,000, just below the average wage, will have almost halved from 33 percent to 17.5 percent.
Northcote has a high percentage of people in work. Over 90 percent of residents receive no government benefit so the tax changes will deliver extra cash into their pockets and help people get ahead under their own steam.
The tax package is also designed to keep skilled workers in New Zealand by providing the right incentives instead of seeing them leave to chase better opportunities overseas. Again that will see many people in Northcote better off with over 50 percent of those employed falling into the skilled category.
For people receiving New Zealand Super, Working for Families and benefit payments, we’re increasing those payments to compensate for the rise in GST.
Overall this tax package means the vast bulk of households will be better off and we’re tightening investment property rules to make the system fairer.
The government is also injecting money into other high priority areas.
An extra $2.1 billion is being put into health over the next four years, including an extra $512 million in 2010/11. This includes more money for District Health Boards, disability services, and elective surgery.
Education is also vitally important to New Zealand’s long-term wellbeing and the government is channelling $1.4 billion over four years into the sector with an extra $417 million this year.
We’re also increasing operational funding to schools, boosting property funding, and investing in ultra-fast broadband support for schools.
There’s loads more information on what the budget delivers and you can read more at http://national.org.nz/budget2010/BudgetInBrief.pdf . Here you can also read how it will lead New Zealand onto a path of economic recovery.
Welcome
As Associate Minister of Tourism, I am delighted to welcome you to TRENZ 2010. TRENZ is a huge event, the most important event on New Zealand's tourism calendar.
TRENZ gives New Zealand tourism businesses the opportunity to show travel buyers and media what is new and exciting about our tourism products. And it gives all of us the opportunity to showcase New Zealand's hospitality and demonstrate what makes visiting New Zealand such a unique and special experience.
I would like to thank you for your vital contribution you make, as media, to our tourism industry. I would also like to acknowledge that many of you have travelled to be here today, and to extend a particularly warm welcome to our international guests.
Current state of New Zealand tourism industry
Your presence, and the presence of more than 270 international buyers from 30 markets here at TRENZ speaks volumes for the resilience of the global tourism industry.
We have all felt the impacts of the global recession. 2009 was the worst year for international tourism in decades, as businesses and households cut long-haul travel. As well, travel out of Asian markets reduced dramatically due to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
Globally, international visitor arrivals were down 4% in 2009.
The fact that, in the face of these global challenges, the total number of visitor arrivals to New Zealand remained unchanged in 2009 is astounding.
I have been hugely impressed by the New Zealand tourism sector's response to this crisis. It has not been easy. Some businesses have struggled more than others, due to their market exposure or product offer.
New Zealand experienced big drops in long-haul holiday arrivals and business travel. Thankfully, much of the impact on arrivals was offset by increases in holiday and visiting friends and relations (VFR) arrivals from Australia.
There is still uncertainty, and there are plenty of challenges ahead, but the Ministry of Tourism is cautiously optimistic that visitor numbers will exceed the forecast 2.5% growth in arrivals for 2010.
International visitor arrivals were up 4.1% for the year to March, driven by an early Easter and the timing of Australian school holidays. They were up 3.1% for the year to April.
While our international arrivals are heading in the right direction, expenditure remains soft, down 2.2% for the year ended March.
We still face significant challenges. Continuing economic difficulties in many of our origin markets are behind this. We need to accept the challenges, and also look towards areas where there are greater opportunities, and positioning ourselves to meet future demands.
Tourism is vitally important to New Zealand. Tourism is New Zealand's 2nd largest export industry, worth more than $9 billion to the New Zealand economy.
Domestic and international tourism expenditure combined is more than $20 billion, with almost one in ten New Zealanders directly or indirectly employed in tourism.
Government knows there is potential for New Zealand to get even more value from tourism in the future. Government is focused on economic growth, and as such a large part of our economy, the tourism sector has a vital role to play.
Positioning New Zealand tourism for the future
Trends in international tourism
Globally, the tourism industry still faces many challenges. The already highly competitive airline market has been affected by the global recession. The recent volcanic eruption in Iceland will have added to the economic stress experienced by many tourism businesses.
This means that, as we move towards recovery, competition for the tourist dollar will be fierce. Tourism businesses, and countries like New Zealand that are so dependent on tourism, need to think ahead and offer not just what visitors want now, but move towards what they will want in the future.
Trends such as internet based research and booking, short lead-in times for bookings, and the development of emissions trading schemes and other carbon charges are impacting, and will continue to impact, on tourism. We must plan for and be prepared to meet these challenges.
Increasingly, visitors are seeking unique, authentic experiences. Visitors want to truly engage with local people, local cultures and share experiences that have a strong local flavour. Visitors want to enjoy food and wine that has been grown in the region they are visiting. They will value the experience even more if they can meet the farmer or the winegrower, see what they do, and even participate in the process.
Visitors are more often looking to ‘give something back' during their holiday often through volunteer projects with the environment or communities. At the same time, expectations for top quality infrastructure, including accommodation, transport and telecommunications are also increasing.
These are all things that New Zealand tourism offers and does extremely well. We need to work with these trends if we are to meet the expectations of our future visitors. New Zealand's tourism sector offers a fantastic combination of experiences that visitors cannot get anywhere else.
Government support
Government is working with the tourism sector to:
Marketing
Just over a week ago our Prime Minister, John Key (who is also our Minister of Tourism) announced an extra $30 million for tourism marketing in this year's Budget. This is an enormous increase - more than a third of Tourism New Zealand's previous marketing budget! It brings government's total investment to just under $100 million.
In the face of our extremely tight government budget, this funding represents a huge vote of confidence in the tourism industry. We are confident in the industry's ability to achieve a valuable return on this investment, for New Zealand.
The $30 million follows our decision for a one-off increase of $20 million in the previous year. It will allow Tourism New Zealand to further build on our presence in key markets, such as Australia, the United States and China. It again includes $5 million allocated to a joint venture fund, for Tourism New Zealand to partner with regional tourism organisations and the private sector.
I am very proud of our achievement in working with industry to minimise the impact of the economic recession on the volume of visitor arrivals.
The extra $2.5 million Government provided to Tourism New Zealand last year to increase activity in the Australian market reaped big rewards. The growth in arrivals from the Australian market in 2009 succeeded in offsetting the decline in arrivals from other markets.
New Zealand's market mix is expected to change again as the world emerges from the recession. Australian visitors may shift their outbound travel back to a higher proportion of long-haul. And the amount of business and long-haul travel to New Zealand may pick up again.
In this changing environment, we need to look for the emerging opportunities to build the value of tourism in New Zealand for the long-term.
Soon you will be hearing from Kevin Bowler about how Tourism New Zealand is positioning itself for the future, using digital marketing, social media, and the very latest communication technologies to attract future visitors to New Zealand.
Aviation
It is all very well encouraging people to visit New Zealand, but they need to be able to get here. As you know, we are a long way from anywhere.
I am delighted that over the last two years, throughout what is being termed the worst ever global recession, New Zealand retained all of its airline services. We cannot hope to retain our air links by being the cheapest place in the world to get to. So we have to excel at the service we offer.
I'm pleased to say that we do. Air New Zealand and Auckland International Airport were recognised as being in the top 10 in the world for quality service in the well respected Skytrax survey. Up to 18 million airline passengers from around the world vote in the survey, so it is a true test of customer service.
Auckland International Airport Ltd has been acknowledged by airlines around the world for the innovative ways it worked with airlines to keep airline services in the last two years. The Airport won the Routes Conference Asia-Pacific Supreme Award and is in the running for the global award.
Our challenge now is to grow the aviation market. We will support both incremental growth, and the development of newroutes or airlines which and to existing services, rather than making them uneconomic. An example of incremental growth was Royal Brunei's schedule adjustment which sees it flying to New Zealand without a stop in Australia, meaning more travellers come directly to New Zealand.
Offering unique experiences
Maori culture
Maori culture is something you cannot truly experience anywhere in the world but New Zealand. Our Maori tourism product is crucial to New Zealand's position as a unique, high-value tourism destination.
Government has recognised the vital role that attendance at TRENZ plays in getting the word out to our international buyers and markets about our Maori tourism businesses.
We have funded a unique programme this year - the Maori Tourism TRENZ Capability Programme 2010. The programme has provided expert support to ten outstanding Maori cultural tourism businesses. We've had huge support for the programme.
Each business has been brought up to speed on what it means to prepare for and make the most out of attending TRENZ; to be a part of these three high-energy days; to pitch to international buyers; and to build the relationships and make the sales they need to grow their business.
These Maori businesses are all here at TRENZ today and tomorrow, where they have been matched with experienced exhibitors and businesses to observe what goes on.
Environment
New Zealand's stunning landscapes are what attract most visitors to New Zealand. New Zealand offers an amazing range of spectacular scenery crammed into a very small area. One visitor's travel blog commented along the lines of ‘don't worry that I haven't labelled my photos - anywhere you go in New Zealand you'll see something equally beautiful three times a day'.
With around one third of our country as protected conservation estate, New Zealand has a huge opportunity to continue to build on this point of difference. There are already many tourism operators offering wonderful experiences on our conservation estate. I believe we have the opportunity to offer many more. Particularly experiences that allow people to get hands on with nature, to help out in conservation projects, and to get a much greater understanding of New Zealand's amazing and unique environment.
Cycle Trail
The New Zealand Cycle Trail project was launched in November. Government is investing $50 million over three years in this project.
The goal is to have 20 world-class trails developed, totalling around 2,000km, by 2012.
The initial focus of the project is to develop a series of "Great Rides". The Great Rides will complement our 100% Pure New Zealand brand and help attract international tourists.
In the longer term, it is envisaged that the Great Rides will be progressively linked with other cycling routes and facilities, and will cater for a range of cycling abilities, types and purposes.
Government is investing in to help develop a product that will meet the demands of the visitor of the future. Trips along the cycle trail will enable people to take their time, get off the beaten track, meet local people and enjoy our scenery. The brand Nga Haerenga means "the journeys", both in a physical and spiritual sense, and this is exactly the sort of experience we want visitors to New Zealand to enjoy.
You can find out more if you visit the Cycle Trail stand at the Ministry of Tourism's site right here at TRENZ.
Rugby World Cup
A truly exciting, one-off tourism experience on the horizon is the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
An important message I want to convey is that New Zealand is still open for all our usual tourism business during the Cup. There will be pressure points around some of the big matches, but the total number of visitors we expect is less than our usual summer peak. So I can assure you, there is room for all of you.
I hear you will have a media briefing on the Rugby World Cup 2011 tomorrow. So I will say no more now other than - it will be fantastic! We are preparing a stadium of 4 million enthusiastic supporters, and I hope to see you all back here in 2011 to join in the fun.
Providing quality infrastructure and hospitality
Government also has a big role to play in ensuring that visitors experience the first rate infrastructure that they expect, and that underpins the entire tourism industry. This means widely accessible broadband, efficient, well-maintained transport networks, smooth processing at our borders and assurance of high quality experiences.
Broadband
In last week's Budget, Government announced an extra $200 million in funding over the next four years to roll out ultra-fast broadband.
Up to $1.5 billion has been committed to Government's ultra-fast broadband initiative, and we expect this to be at least matched by the private sector.
It is vital that our tourism businesses, our visitors, our educational institutes, and all New Zealanders, have access to the communication technologies they need and expect. Government is making sure this will happen.
Transport
New Zealand is a long, thin country. To make the most of the experiences on offer in New Zealand, visitors need regular domestic air links, a quality roading network and a range of public transport options, such as rail and bus networks.
Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand's transport network is able to meet our needs for growth now, and into the future.
Government is investing hugely in New Zealand's State Highway network -$10.7 billion for new roads over the next 10 years. Linking our major sea and air ports more effectively into the state highway system is a top priority.
Last week's Budget also announced $500 million for the electrification of Auckland rail lines, as well as $250 million for the wider rail network and rolling stock.
Smartgate
The experience visitors have at our border provides the first, and the last, memories that they take home. We want to make sure that experience goes as smoothly as possible.
Government is working closely with Australia to streamline our trans-Tasman border experiences. Trans-Tasman travel is big - more than one million Australian residents travelled to New Zealand last year, and the number of New Zealanders travelling to Australia is only slightly less.
In December Smartgate terminals became operational at Auckland airport. Australian and New Zealand ePassport holders can use these automated terminals on both sides of the Tasman to clear customs and immigration. The terminals will be rolled out in Wellington and Christchurch airports in 2010/2011.
Qualmark
It is essential that we continue to give our visitors the truly outstanding experience they expect from a niche, high-value destination. We know that every part of a visitor's experience needs to support the whole. Government is committed to supporting quality assurance in New Zealand's tourism sector, and helps to fund Qualmark.
Qualmark is New Zealand's official tourism mark of quality. Qualmark license holders are independently assessed. If a business holds the Qualmark, visitors can be assured of the quality standard they should expect.
Qualmark's agenda is long-term. We know that quality is not something you can set and forget, and that visitor expectations are constantly shifting.
New Zealand's environment and stunning scenery is the main attraction for most of our international visitors. The tourism sector knows we must protect that asset base.
Qualmark's environmental standards are about tourism businesses taking leadership in protecting the environment on which their businesses depend. All Qualmark licensed businesses must meet basic responsible tourism criteria.
Bronze, silver and gold Enviro Awards are only given to top performers. I recommend stopping for a chat when you see the bronze, silver or gold Enviro Award logos on exhibitor's booths at TRENZ. You'll be amazed by just what some businesses have achieved for the environment and their communities.
Why the media are important to NZ tourism
It is all very well offering a fantastic visitor experience once people get to New Zealand. But they need to know we exist first, and they need to be inspired to come. That's where you come in.
Travel media are essential to the success of New Zealand's tourism industry and to the growth in tourism's value to our economy that we are aiming for. On a global scale, New Zealand's tourism marketing budget is tiny. Our share of global visitor arrivals is only 0.2%.
It is our responsibility to give each and every visitor the experience of a lifetime - only we can do that. But what you do, in writing blogs, columns and articles, in presenting on radio and sharing your experiences with your friends is invaluable. Without the hits, the downloads and the column inches you generate, my role would be much, much, harder. And tourism would likely not be the big player in New Zealand's economy that it is today. Thank you.
Closing
I am sure that you will be making the most of the fantastic experience that is TRENZ. I encourage you to talk to our operators, sample our hospitality, and come back again to experience all the tourism products that you can't fit in this time. I will look forward to seeing you all in 2011.
Budget day is always the biggest day of the parliamentary year and yesterday was no exception.
As you know the major feature is personal tax cuts which will leave the vast majority of New Zealanders better off. The tax cuts mean 73 per cent of income earners will now pay the 17.5 per cent rate or less on all their income.
What’s more, since March 2009 the marginal rate of income tax faced by taxpayers earning between $40,000 and $48,000, just below the average wage, will have almost halved from 33 per cent to 17.5 per cent.
Read on for more information about Budget 2010.
Essential links:
Calculate your tax cut www.taxguide.co.nz
Learn more about the Budget www.national.org.nz/budget
Budget 2010: Building the Recovery
National is determined to lift New Zealand’s economic performance. That’s the only way we can create jobs, boost incomes, raise living standards, and provide the world-class public services that Kiwi families deserve.
Budget 2010 focuses squarely on faster economic growth, helps families get ahead, and sets a credible path for getting the government books back to surplus sooner.
We owe it to hard-working Kiwi families to provide them with the financial security, opportunities, and higher take-home incomes that allow them to get ahead here in New Zealand.
Budget 2010 does those things and sets out a path to build on our recovery.
Get a summary of the Budget http://national.org.nz/budget2010/BudgetInBrief.pdf
Get more Budget facts http://national.org.nz/budget2010/BudgetFacts.pdf
Budget 2010: Tax – Rewarding effort and helping families get ahead
National is providing the biggest tax reform in nearly 25 years. This creates a fairer tax system that encourages savings and productive investment, keeps skilled Kiwis in New Zealand, and helps families to get ahead.
It includes across-the-board personal tax cuts to give families more choice. We’re increasing GST to 15 per cent, and increasing NZ Super, Working For Families, and benefit payments to compensate for this.
And we’re tightening investment property rules to make the system fairer.
As a result, the vast majority of Kiwis will be better off, providing $15 a week to the average wage earner, and $25 a week to the average household.
Learn more about Budget tax changes http://national.org.nz/budget2010/TaxReform_Summary.pdf
Budget 2010: Health – Better, sooner, more convenient healthcare
National is investing an extra $2.1 billion in health priorities over the next four years, including an extra $512 million in 2010/11.
This includes more money for District Health Boards, disability services, and elective surgery. Last year we delivered the largest ever annual increase in elective operations – necessary operations such as joint replacements, cataract removals, and ear, nose, and throat surgery.
We’re also investing more in disability support services, a new national bowel cancer screening pilot programme, medicines, and new doctor training places.
Vote Health is the single biggest item of new operating spending in Budget 2010. The new resources in Budget 2010 reflect our commitment to improve frontline health services for patients, and provide better, sooner, more convenient healthcare for all New Zealanders.
Learn more about Budget health initiatives
http://national.org.nz/budget2010/Health_Summary.pdf
Budget 2010: Education – Helping young people get the skills and opportunities to succeed
Better educational outcomes are important for the future of all New Zealanders – and our economy.
National is committed to lifting education standards. Budget 2010 boosts spending on education by $1.4 billion over the next four years, with an extra $417 million this year to increase spending to $12 billion in 2010/11.
We’re increasing operational funding to schools, boosting property funding, and investing in ultra-fast broadband support for schools. Youth Guarantee places will increase from 2000 to 2500.
National wants to make sure that early childhood services are available to families most in need. We are providing an extra $107 million this year, bringing total early childhood education funding to $1.3 billion.
We’re also boosting funding for tertiary education. Our focus is on creating more student places, streamlining funding, and supporting student success.
Learn more about Budget education initiatives
http://national.org.nz/budget2010/Education_Summary.pdf
Budget 2010: Infrastructure – Unclogging the growth arteries
National is working to unclog the growth arteries of our economy and create jobs with better roads, broadband, rail, and electricity networks. Budget 2010 allocates another $1.45 billion this year – the second of a five-year $7.5 billion infrastructure programme.
Tackling bottlenecks in our roading, electricity, and telecommunications networks is a priority for this Government. We are also focused on providing high-quality infrastructure for schools and prisons.
Our infrastructure programme is directly supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to a stronger economy, which over time will mean better wages and higher living standards for New Zealand families.
Learn more about Budget infrastructure initiatives
http://national.org.nz/budget2010/Infrastructure_Summary.pdf
Budget 2010: Social Development & Housing – Better frontline support and housing for families
National is committed to better frontline support for families in need.
In Budget 2010, we’re providing funding to help non-governmental organisations to deliver extra high quality services, putting Whanau Ora in place, investing in support for teen parents, and expanding our Job Ops programme to double the number of 16- to 24-year-olds placed in the scheme.
We’re also committed to growing the supply of affordable housing for New Zealanders and their families.
Budget 2010 builds on the steps we’ve taken to help New Zealanders into houses, including extending the Housing Innovation Fund for another year, and providing financial assistance to help homeowners fix their leaky homes faster.
Learn more about Budget housing and social development initiatives
http://national.org.nz/budget2010/SD&Housing_Summary.pdf
Learn more about our Leaky Homes package
http://www.national.org.nz/files/2010/Budget_2010-Leaky_Homes_Package.pdf
The Government’s support for UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
There’s been extensive coverage over the past week over the Government affirming the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I know there are a range of views on this subject, and I am listening to the feedback from the electorate.
A lot of people are worried that the DRIP might be "the thin end of the wedge." I can understand people’s concern.
However to give the situation some context, New Zealand has always supported the overall aspirations of this declaration and last week’s announcement does not alter our existing legal and constitutional frameworks. What’s more, we were one of only four UN nations that had not affirmed it in 2007 - a pretty ridiculous place to be when you consider that our record on race relations would be hard to better internationally. Subsequently Australia has affirmed the declaration as well.
In short, despite Hone Harawira’s excitement about the document, and despite the gloomy forecasts of those strongly opposed, the DRIP does not over ride existing legal frameworks. The fine print and caveats around the document mean that in practice nothing will change. It is not going to confer anyone any new legal rights. The PM has been quite clear on that.
Law Commission Report on Alcohol
As you will be aware, this report was released yesterday. Drinking is out of control in New Zealand, and the Law Commission has been asked to come up with a range of options to tackle the problem. They include a range of measures around pricing, availability and purchase age. It’s a 500 page report which the Government is digesting before coming back with a response over the next couple of weeks.
500 Days to the World Cup
Yesterday at parliament we held a function to highlight that there are 500 days to go to RWC 2011. Why highlight 500 days? The emphasis is on making sure that NZ capitalises on the huge international opportunity the RWC presents- it’s not just about the tournament itself, but the long term benefits in terms of visitation and business links. Business and local government needs to be organised well in advance- hence the reminder at the 500 days mark. Whether you’re a rugby fan or not, this is going to be the biggest event ever held in NZ.
In the electorate
Saturday I was down at the Glenfield and Northcote rugby clubs, checking out some local sport on a great autumn afternoon. Anzac Day was commemorated locally with services at Birkenhead, Northcote and Glenfield. Despite tight timing I managed to get to all three and spoke at Glenfield. Click on here if you would like to read my speech. http://www.jonathancoleman.co.nz/index.php?/archives/321-Glenfield-ANZAC-Service-2010.html
This Friday I will be holding my usual electorate clinic and in the afternoon I’m holding a forum in Northcote Town Centre for the local Chinese community. In the evening I will speaking at the fund raiser for the Korean Garden project at Fairway Lodge.
Today, Anzac Day, marks the anniversary of the first New Zealand and Australian landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula at dawn on the 25th of April 1915. It is not a day on which to glorify the act of war itself, but a day on which to remember those New Zealanders who gave their lives in the service of their country.
New Zealanders of my age have not known the deprivations, the grief and the sorrows of war time, and for that we have the sacrifices of previous generations to thank. We are honored that there are veterans of conflict present today at this ceremony, and frankly we feel humbled before you.
Of course no veterans of the First World War are left alive in this country now, and as each year passes, there are inevitably fewer veterans of the Second. Yet New Zealanders have served with bravery and distinction in theatres of war since World War Two, notably in Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and Afghanistan, and of course, in peace keeping roles around the world.
The reality of wartime is that ordinary people are called upon to put aside the routine of everyday existence to perform extraordinary service. On the memorial beside us are inscribed the names of 14 men from Glenfield who gave their lives in the First World War, and a further 9 who died in the second. When you consider that prior to the building of the Harbour Bridge this was a small rural community, one can only imagine the devastating effect that the loss of these young lives must have had in the district.
When you go and visit Gallipoli now, it’s hard to imagine the carnage that took place that day when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force landed. 95 years has altered the cliffs, and the slopes that those first New Zealand troops had to scale seem too gentle, not as steep and as high as you’d thought they might be.
It’s a very moving experience, but it’s a slightly strange one too- you’re in a place you’ve never been before, but at the same time you’ve grown up with. A place you’ve always wanted to get to, and then finally you’re there. It’s a place that causes every New Zealander who goes there to pause and reflect. It makes you sad, it makes you feel proud.
One of the things that strikes you at Gallipoli is the reverence with which the Turks regard the ANZAC troops that died there, and it’s something that leaves a deep impression on every New Zealander who visits. There is a large inscription on a free-standing brick wall on the cliff at Gallipoli. It is in English, not Turkish, so it’s clearly directed at the thousands of visitors from New Zealand and Australia. The quote is from Ataturk, who was the commander of the Turkish Forces, subsequently President of Turkey, and commonly regarded as the greatest Turk of modern times, and it reads:
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours….
You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries
Wipe away your tears;
Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in Peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
The words are oddly comforting to New Zealanders themselves far from home, in a strange and foreign place that means so much.
A funny thing is happening with Anzac Day. It’s getting bigger with every year throughout our country. There are various theories as to why, and it’s central to them all that Gallipoli and the Anzac tradition is a touchstone for New Zealanders, something that we cherish and want never to let go of.
But if we want to keep that tradition alive, we have to honor the pledge that we make at every Anzac service, to men like the sons of Glenfield who gave their lives in conflict: "Lest We Forget".
In the age of the 10 month rugby season, you could be excused if you’re struggling to muster enthusiasm for the professional game.
The constant diet of televised footy can make the seasons blur into one, with the predictable pattern of early promise from the Blues quickly being swamped by the cold, hard realities of Crusader and South African dominance. The fact that criminal behaviour off the field (alleged or otherwise) seems to be no barrier to players turning out in the Super 14, may just make you that little bit more cynical about the professional game.
Well, if your desire for our national game needs to be reignited, I can suggest no better place than your local North Harbour rugby club on a Saturday afternoon. There you will see footy as you always remembered it – passionately played encounters where often it’s hard to predict the winner until the final whistle.
You couldn’t have got better value for money (entry to club games is free) than the North Harbour union’s opening round of the premier club competition on March 27. Played out against a picturesque rural backdrop, ten premier teams were in action at the same ground on the same afternoon. What’s more, the sidelines boasted a who’s who of North Harbour rugby – Buck Shelford, Frano Botica, and coaches Craig Dowd and Jeff Wilson amongst others.
Certainly the various clubs laid down markers for the season with a number of interesting results. Silverdale stole a last minute win over more-fancied East Coast Bays, while last season’s champions Takapuna were taken out by Massey. Still, it’s early days and come the end of the season, Taka will be right up there.
Northcote’s win over Marist indicates they’re determined to go one better than their 2009 result of second in the competition. With a young pack built around the Mayhew – Whetton axis, this team is just going to get better and better.
Throw in the experienced guidance of ex-All Black skipper Gary Whetton and you have a side that could go all the way.
This year also marks 25 years of North Habour’s existence as a union following the 1985 breakaway from Auckland. It’s definitely something major to celebrate in our area and a big part of sporting identity north of the bridge.
Yes it would be great to see a return to Harbour’s original colours rather than last season’s black, and yes we want to see the NPC side performing better in 2010. However, those who were behind North Harbour’s launch in 1985, a number of whom who were on the sideline at Helensville (Chris Kennings, Peter Dolan) would have been quietly pleased with what we’re seeing of the club game in 2010.
So if those inconsistent Blues are driving you crazy, why not head down to the Harvey Wright field, Kaipatiki or Onewa Domain next Saturday. You might just find your love of the game flowing back.
While we’re on rugby, a reminder that applications for Venue and Team pool packs for the Rugby World Cup open on April 27.
This means you can apply for tickets for all pool matches at a chosen venue and apply for tickets for all pool matches for a chosen team. North Harbour Stadium is hosting three pool games including the South Africa V Samoa match which is bound to be a cracker.