Fight against pneumococcal meningitis gets funding

From next year every baby born in New Zealand will be eligible for a free vaccine to fight against pneumococcal meningitis.  The Labour-led government has announced it will spend $68 million over the next four years to fund Prevenar vaccine, and add it to the National Immunisation Schedule.

"Last year I met with some of the parents and children who have endured this terrible disease.  While no vaccine can offer 100 per cent guarantee, vaccination is our best chance to prevent illness, disability or death in our young.'' Health Minister Pete Hodgson said.  New Zealand has relatively high rates of pneumococcal disease, particularly among Maori and Pacific children.  Last year 151 children under the age of five contracted pneumococcal invasive disease.

All babies born in New Zealand from January 1 next year will be eligible to receive the vaccine at six weeks, three months, five months and 15 months through their GP or Primary Health Organisation. Vaccinations will begin in June 2008 and the schedule will be adjusted for the age when the baby is first vaccinated.

Driving higher quality university education

Universities are to receive an extra $129 million over the next four years to ensure they can deliver high quality and relevant training that meets our economic and social priorities, Tertiary Education Minister Dr Michael Cullen announced this week.   

"The funding will support the new investing in a plan approach that seeks to ensure universities and other tertiary education organisations are equipped to meet the needs of all stakeholders - students, business, communities and taxpayers," said Dr Cullen.  "We want a vibrant, energetic and focused university sector that helps to drive economic transformation. The additional funding will therefore help the sector manage change, enhance capability and improve international competitiveness."

The extra funding provides:

• $40 million over the next four years to support sector change in key areas such as further differentiation and collaboration, increased achievement of under-represented groups, and an ongoing focus on high quality teaching and research to drive economic growth.
  
• $89 million specifically for the University Tripartite Forum to explore and create opportunities to increase the competitiveness of New Zealand universities, through recruitment and retention strategies in an international labour market. 

Antarctic research and international

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced increased investment in efforts to learn and understand more about the relationship between Antarctica and climate change, and the world’s environmental systems.

The announcement of New Zealand's contribution to International Polar Year also involves an expanded programme of research into marine biodiversity.

"International Polar Year is a unique opportunity for scientists to participate in important collaborations likely to produce major advances in Antarctic science and reinforce New Zealand’s position as a serious science partner," Helen Clark said.  The Labour-Progressive Government is spending an additional $11.1m over three years for research into Antarctica’s role in climate change and global environmental systems, as part of International Polar Year (IPY).

The Government’s IPY package includes funding for:

• A major international marine biodiversity study: the Census of Antarctic Marine Life in the Ross Sea ($6.6 million)
  
• A contestable fund to support International Polar Year research ($4.5 million). 

Government sets timeline for consideration of emissions trading

The Labour-led government will make important decisions on New Zealand's move towards a greenhouse gas emissions trading regime in the next three months, Climate Change Minister David Parker said this week.

"Climate change policy is about reducing emissions.  An emissions trading scheme could provide New Zealand businesses with a flexible way of reducing their carbon footprint, and help put New Zealand on the path to a sustainable future," David Parker said.

A "cap-and-trade" emissions trading scheme is a market-based means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Participants in the system are allocated, or purchase, a share of the capped emissions permits, which they can trade with others.  Those who can reduce emissions for less than the market price of emissions, cut their emissions.

"It is important that New Zealand has durable climate change policy, which minimises the long-term costs of reducing emissions while maximising opportunities.

"We have already been engaging with willing political parties on climate change policy over the past months, and we look forward to working with them further on design details, as we move forward."

Increase in local TV content builds national identity

The Minister of Broadcasting Steve Maharey this week welcomed the release of NZ On Air's Local Content Report showing the highest ever levels of New Zealand content on television in 2006.

"Hours of local content on free-to-air television reached 10,255 in 2006, which is nearly double the level of 6142 hours achieved under the National government in 1999," Steve Maharey said.

"The Labour-led government is committed to the core objective of building national identity and this report provides a clear example of success.  There were just 2111 hours of local content on TV when the collation of hours began in 1988.  Television provides New Zealanders with access to their own stories more than ever before, with public broadcasters successfully reflecting our culture and national pride."