Another step to healthier young people in schools

The Education Minister, Steve Maharey, has announced the latest phase of the Mission On campaign, which requires schools to promote healthy food and nutrition for students, and sell only healthy options in schools.

"The Labour-led government is investing $67 million over four years in a range of Mission On initiatives to target obesity and promote healthy, confident young people. New changes to the National Administration Guidelines (NAGs) ask schools to review their current practice, and offer certain food and drinks either everyday, sometimes or occasionally.

"It's up to schools how they address the NAGs. This change does not do away with traditional barbecues, sausage sizzles or selling chocolate for fundraising, it merely requires schools to look at what they provide and make practical decisions about offering healthy options as well.

"The change to the NAGs is not about banning particular food and drinks, but for example, schools could consider selling pies or sausage rolls occasionally, and sandwiches and fruit every day. Schools have the flexibility to implement the guidelines to suit the needs of their students.

"A third of our children's daily food intake is consumed at school, making it the ideal place to promote healthy, active lifestyles. Getting this message across to children early helps create lifelong habits of eating well and being healthy."

PM welcomes newest member of Royal NZ Navy

Prime Minister Helen Clark this week officiated at a ceremony to mark the commissioning into the Royal New Zealand Navy of the brand new multi-role vessel, HMNZS Canterbury at the Tenix dockyards in Melbourne.

"This vessel represents the addition of a significant capability to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The Canterbury provides a platform to transport and deploy personnel, equipment and supplies when New Zealand has not previously had available," said Helen Clark.

"The need for a multi-role vessel has long been recognised by the NZDF. The Canterbury will allow New Zealand a much greater degree of flexibility in responding to military deployments and requests for civil and disaster relief; primarily within the Pacific, but also wider afield.

"The Canterbury is the first of seven new ships being constructed under Project Protector, the $500 million initiative designed to provide an enhanced operational capability to the Royal New Zealand Navy. The seven Project Protector vessels represent the greatest boost to ship numbers and capacity ever enjoyed by the Royal New Zealand Navy, and will provide a significant boost in morale and capability," said Helen Clark.

GP Training Numbers To Increase By 50 Per Cent

From next February the number of fully funded places for General Practice training will rise from 69 a year to 104, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today at the Continuing Medical Education conference in Rotorua.

The changes mean that the Labour-led Government will fully fund the current number of training positions - each year up to fifty places are partially funded by the doctors-in-training themselves.

"The Labour-led Government's significant investment in Primary Care means new team approaches, better care for chronic conditions and more emphasis on prevention.  The Clinical Training Agency is working with the College of GPs to ensure that newly trained GPs are a good fit for this new environment," said Pete Hodgson.

The need for more trainees is clear.  The average age of GPs is 48; the number of GPs has plateaued - to 3013; and the proportion of doctors who are GPs has also declined - from 37 per cent to 34 per cent.  "Taking these steps now should help ensure we have sufficient GPs to provide comprehensive primary care around the country in future, and I will keep a watching brief should further increases be warranted and affordable."

Govt confirms ongoing support for trans-Tasman biotech ventures

The Labour-led government is backing New Zealand’s rapidly growing biotechnology industry, with confirmation of ongoing funding of $25 million over the next five years for the Australia New Zealand Biotechnology Partnership Fund, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard announced in Brisbane on Wednesday.

The fund aims to facilitate trans-Tasman collaboration and in particular to help firms involved in trans-Tasman projects to commercialise their ideas. Ongoing funding of $5 million annually until 2012 is now confirmed after a Ministry of Economic Development review showed the fund is making a positive impact in supporting the commercialisation of biotech firms in both countries. 

"Since July 2004 the fund has provided Kiwi firms with the means to establish significant alliances with Australian organisations, giving them access to a greater pool of expertise and skill, and a more visible profile on the international stage. New Zealanders need to aim for ‘world-leader’ status in sectors like biotechnology if we are serious about transforming our economy and lifting living standards - and this trans-Tasman fund is helping in this work,” Helen Clark said.

KiwiSaver fee subsidy, mortgage diversion rules enacted

Preparations for the 1 July introduction of KiwiSaver advanced on Monday with the signing of an Order in Council that brings into effect both the annual fee subsidy to be paid to members and the rules governing the use of KiwiSaver to help repay the mortgage on the family home.

"We welcome these legislative changes, the last that are required for KiwiSaver, the landmark workplace saving scheme, to go live in July," Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said.

"Under the new regulations, the government will pay $40 a year into members’ accounts to subsidise the fees charged by scheme providers. The mortgage diversion facility will allow members to divert up to half their contributions to repaying the mortgage on their home, so long as the mortgagee and the scheme provider agree.