10 September, 2007
Beehive Bulletin7 September 2007
Tackling family violence in our communities
This week saw the launch of the Campaign for Action on Family Violence is a major initiative of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families. The Ministry of Social Development and the Families Commission are jointly leading the $14 million campaign.
Launching the campaign with Associate Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson, Prime Minister Helen Clark said, "Family violence is a community problem.
We all have a responsibility to support efforts to put an end to it in our communities."
For more information:
- See www.areyouok.org.nz
- The TV commercial, a backgrounder, and links to the speeches of Helen Clark and Ruth Dyson, click here.
Prime Minister travelling to APEC Summit
Prime Minister Helen Clark is in Sydney over the weekend for the APEC Leaders' Summit -- the eighth time Helen Clark has attended.
"Priorities for discussion by leaders include issues of climate change and energy security, the WTO's Doha Round of trade negotiations, greater regional economic integration, and reform of the APEC structure itself," said Helen Clark
"APEC is critically important to New Zealand as it includes major partners in the Asia-Pacific region, and accounts for more than 70 per cent of our total trade."
This year APEC has returned to Australia, where it was launched in 1989. At the outset in 1989 APEC embraced 12 economies. Today it brings together 21 economies, comprising over sixty per cent of world GDP and close to half of world trade.
- More info: www.apec2007.org
Anti-spam law now in force
New Zealand has joined the global fight against spam with new anti-spam legislation coming into effect.
The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 enables the government to fight New Zealand-sourced spam. It also supports New Zealand’s participation in international efforts to combat unsolicited electronic messages, mainly email.
Communications Minister David Cunliffe says although the Act alone won't solve the issue of spam, enforcement agencies can now bring spammers to task.
A new government unit will enforce the law and is running nationwide seminars to prepare businesses for the law change and encourage good practice by e-marketers.
- Fore more info: www.antispam.govt.nz
NZ and Mexico set up working holiday scheme
A new reciprocal working holiday scheme between New Zealand and Mexico gives young Kiwis the opportunity to enjoy living and working in Mexico, and for young Mexicans to come and experience New Zealand.
"Under this scheme up to 200 young people aged between 18 and 30 can visit and work for a year in the host country," said Helen Clark.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Helen Clark and the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa in Auckland.
"Today’s signing builds on our strengthening ties with Latin American nations," said Helen Clark.
"New Zealand has had working holiday schemes with Argentina and Uruguay since 2003 and, Chile since 2002. The scheme has been so successful with young travellers from Argentina and Chile that places have been progressively increased from 300 and 200 respectively, to 1000 places each today. The Working Holiday Scheme with Uruguay offers 100 places.
Mexico is one of the key countries under the Government’s Latin America Strategy.
New opportunities to learn beyond the classroom
Young New Zealanders will be able to get hands on experience of the Dunedin albatross, visit historic ships in Auckland or see native birds in their natural habitat in Wellington thanks to funding from the Labour-led government.
Across NZ, 21 organisations country have been awarded $2.1 million to take students out of the classroom for hands-on interactive learning.
Education Minister Steve Maharey says the Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom initiative funds 350,000 students a year to get out and about to learn new things.
"This years round focuses on the social sciences, and successful organisations include museums, local and regional councils and heritage parks.
"Young people learn most when they can see, touch and interact with things to find out more about what they’re made of and how they work. This kind of learning increases students' awareness of their community and gives them hugely valuable experiences that can’t be recreated in the classroom."
- For more info on Learning Experience Outside the Classroom at the Online Learning Centre, Te Kete Ipurangi: www.tki.org.nz/r/leotc/
Securities Commission advice on finance companies
Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel has welcomed changes to regulations governing finance companies proposed by the Securities Commission.
The proposals will ensure trustees have all the tools they need to supervise the activities of finance companies on behalf of investors.
Ms Dalziel has asked the Securities Commission to determine if supervision of finance companies needs to be strengthened.
"The advice I have received says that changes need to be made to ensure that best practice becomes standard practice," Lianne Dalziel said.
"While the changes will not eliminate risk, they will ensure that investors can have confidence in the accuracy and currency of the information provided to trustees ... we will work with the Securities Commission to deliver the changes as soon as we can," says Ms Dalziel.