Covering 1 to 21 April 2004

Dear readers

Welcome to this edition of my Enews.

Last week I gave a speech to the Converge '05 conference in Christchurch, a conference of people involved in creative industries around New Zealand and overseas. It was good to reflect on the creativity, resourcefulness and initiative of New Zealanders. Our history is full of intriguing and surprising achievements based upon the innovative ideas of our fellow citizens. If we continue pursuing our good ideas our outlook for the future is a very positive one. These speech notes can be found below.

Another event to celebrate last week was Mana Wahine week, which highlighted the success of Maori women in business. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is currently working with a variety of Maori business women helping them to develop exciting opportunities ranging from exporting artwork to producing film and television programmes for both the local and international market. This is not surprising. Maori economic development is going very well and there is a strong Maori business community backing it up. The good thing about Maori economic development is that when it succeeds, Maori reinvest in our regions where we urgently need more investment. There is more information below on this too.

There are a number of other important issues in this edition, for example, the progress we are making to increase access to the important China market for our exporters; a new reserve electricity plant is nearly completed in Hawke Bay to secure energy supplies in dry years; Waikato and Thames have been given $215 million to redevelop their hospitals; Westhaven marina in Auckland has been kept in public ownership; 10 new Public Health Organizations were announced along with cheaper prescriptions ($3 each) prescriptions.

See below for more information on all these issues.

Warmest regards

Jim Anderton MP for Wigram and Progressive Leader Minister for Economic, Industry & Regional Development Associate Minister of Health

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 16 April 2004

Anti-business Act opposed to foreign Greenfield investment - Hon Jim Anderton "For an investment amounting to $1 per small business, Investment NZ generated $484m in new investment and 1921 jobs. Now the anti-business Act Party wants to pillory those investors."

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16 April 2004

Make NZ known the world over for design - Hon Jim Anderton A plan to increase the use of design in New Zealand business will be put in place over coming months with the release of a series of NZ Trade and Enterprise programmes.

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16 April 2004

Celebrate Maori women in business in Mana Wahine week - Hon Jim Anderton "It's well past time for us to celebrate Maori achievements in economic development, and the great contribution made by Maori women in business" Jim Anderton, Minister of Economic development said today.

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16 April 2004

Whirinaki reserve electricity plant nearly complete - Hon Pete Hodgson The Government's Whirinaki power plant in Hawke's Bay is nearly complete, Energy Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

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14 April 2004

New Zealand and China to work towards FTA - Rt. Hon Helen Clark NZ-China FTA - questions and answers.pdf (48 k)

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton announced today that New Zealand and China have agreed on a formal Trade and Economic Cooperation Framework.

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13 April 2004

Maori women among most entrepreneurial - Hon Ruth Dyson Maori women are among the most entrepreneurial business people in the world according to a recent international study, Women's Affairs Minister Ruth Dyson said today.

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08 April 2004

Science funding changes to strengthen research capabilities - Hon Pete Hodgson Research, Science and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson has announced changes to the science funding system that will provide more stable long-term funding to maintain key research capabilities.

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08 April 2004

Government flood aid package confirmed - Hon Jim Sutton The Government has confirmed details of the aid package for flood-affected farmers and crop growers, Rural Affairs Minister Jim Sutton said today .

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ 08 April 2004 NZ's world class aerospace technology ready to fly into Australia - Hon Jim Anderton New Zealand company Pacific Aerospace Corporation is ready to take its PAC 750XL aircraft into the Australian market after gaining Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority certification.

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07 April 2004

Statistics NZ slashes red tape for small business - Hon John Tamihere A concerted effort by Statistics New Zealand to lighten the compliance burden for businesses has been highly successful, Statistics Minister John Tamihere says.

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06 April 2004

Latest energy statistics from MED - Hon Pete Hodgson Energy Minister Pete Hodgson has released the latest edition of the Ministry of Economic Development's Energy Data File, a comprehensive biannual volume of energy statistics.

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DRUGS and SUICIDE 08 April 2004

Anderton signals support for Murupara's fight against P - Hon Jim Anderton Associate Health Minister, Jim Anderton, says he has nothing but praise for the work of the Murupara community in the fight against methamphetamine abuse.

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08 April 2004

Anderton seeks more research into effects of BZP, options to restrict sales - Hon Jim Anderton Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton has received a report from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) on Benzylpiperazine (BZP) and related substances, also known as 'party pills'. "The Committee has recommended that there needs to be more regulation and control over these 'party pills' but it does not recommend their classification as controlled drugs at this time," the Progressive leader said.

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01 April 2004

Comment on latest suicide statistics - Hon Jim Anderton Data for 2001 released today are a reminder that New Zealand as a society continues to face a very serious challenge from suicide, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said today.

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FORESHORE AND SEABED 07 April 2004

Kaitiakitanga anchors foreshore and seabed bill - Hon Parekura Horomia Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says the government's foreshore and seabed legislation will ensure that Maori traditional rights and interests will be guaranteed, protected and enhanced.

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07 April 2004

Access guaranteed for all New Zealanders - Rt. Hon Helen Clark Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today that the government's foreshore and seabed policy guarantees access to the foreshore and seabed for all New Zealanders.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ 07 April 2004 Building bridges on the foreshore - Hon John Tamihere The Foreshore and Seabed Bill is about bonding the nation rather than dividing it, Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere says.

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07 April 2004

Foreshore seabed policy guarantees access, supports Maori rights - Hon Michael Cullen Foreshore-Seabed-Framework-Synopsis-070404.pdf (161 k)

"The Foreshore and Seabed Bill the government will table tomorrow improves on the proposals we released in December and delivers four square on our promise to protect public access and guarantee public ownership," Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said today.

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HEALTH 15 April 2004

Full approval for Waikato and Thames hospital projects - Hon Annette King Health Minister Annette King says she is delighted the Cabinet has fully approved the Waikato District Health Board's $215 million redevelopment plans for Waikato and Thames hospitals.

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02 April 2004

Annette King welcomes 10 new PHOs and cheaper prescription charges - Hon Annette King Health Minister Annette King says a new Primary Health Organisation (PHO) initiative means that almost one in three New Zealanders will now be able to get prescribed medicines for no more than $3 an item.

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PUBLIC ASSETS 15 April 2004

Westhaven secured for Aucklanders - Hon Trevor Mallard The government has negotiated an agreement to secure public ownership of Westhaven Marina and Hobson West marinas, for the enjoyment of Aucklanders and visitors to the city, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Associate Finance Minister Trevor Mallard announced today.

ENDS

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