Energy and Efficiency

The New Zealand Energy Strategy sets the country firmly on a path towards clean, renewable energy.

Launched on Thursday the New Zealand Energy Strategy puts our country on an ambitious but achievable pathway towards greater sustainability, and a secure energy future.

"New Zealand needs to play its part in tackling climate change. We need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from energy use. This strategy, and its companion document, the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, help us do that," said Prime Minister Helen Clark at the announcement.

The New Zealand Energy Strategy sets out the government’s vision for a sustainable, low emissions energy system, and an action plan to make that vision a reality. It says how we will deliver secure energy at affordable prices to support economic development, whilst being environmentally responsible and reducing carbon emissions from our energy production and use.

The Energy Strategy was launched alongside the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. Work on that strategy has been led by Jeanette Fitzsimons, Government Spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

You can find all the media statement, speeches, backgrounders and Powerpoint presentations on the Beehive website, here.

New Zealand on the world stage

Prime Minister Helen Clark returned from a successful trip to Europe earlier this week.

Britain and France: New Zealand shares common views and perspectives on major international issues with both countries. The meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and new French President Nicolas Sarkozy come at an important time soon after each has taken office. While in Britain, Helen Clark also

• Met former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now the Quartet Middle East Envoy.
• Attended a service at the grave of former NZ Governor-General and World War 2 military commander Lord Freyberg.
• Delivered the speech on New Zealand's place in international affairs at the Oxford Union, mentioned in last week's eehive Bulletin
• Spoke at Southampton University on social democracy, arguing that New Zealanders are fundamentally more at ease with the reassertion of social democratic policies than those of the neo-liberal variety of the late 1980s and 1990s.

European Union and NATO: the Prime Minister joined up NZ to the European Union's efforts to improve Afghanistan's police force – crucial to the country’s long-term stability. Helen Clark also formalised arrangements for New Zealand and NATO to share classified information. The PM's statement on agreements with NATO and European Union is here.

Remembrance: a highlight of the visit were commemorations at Passchendaele in Flanders, the scene of NZ's worst military disaster. A Shared Memories Arrangement was signed with the regional government of Flanders

Promoting tourism, trade and cultural expression. the Prime Minister also:

• Officially opened the "New Zealand Rugby Ball" (pictured), the tourism and trade promotion venue at the base of the Eiffel Tower during the Rugby World Cup. The World Cup presents was an ideal opportunity to promote the trade and tourism opportunities New Zealand can offer.
• Announced that New Zealand will host the SolOceans round the world yacht race which starts in 2009 – News Release and speech.
• Announced NZ's accession to the convention to promote cultural expression. The Convention complements and supports New Zealand’s existing policies around the freedom of cultural expression.

KiwiSaver enrolments exceed 200,000

In the first three months of KiwiSaver the enrolment figures have already broken through the 200,000 mark. Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis are finding it easier to save for their retirement by joining KiwiSaver.

Demographic data indicates that while the KiwiSaver enrolment rate increases as people near 65 years of age, almost half (49 per cent) of people joining KiwiSaver are younger than 45. Members under 20 years of age are 8.6 per cent of the total. The enrolment figures show many parents wish to give their kids a head-start and view KiwiSaver as important for their children’s future, and younger people entering the workforce are getting into the saving habit early.

Two families a day now helped into home ownership

The government’s major Welcome Home Loan initiative helping first-time buyers into their own home has reached 3000 loans, providing two families a day with the security that comes with home ownership. Korina Rangihuna and Richard Jenkins are the 3000th borrowers to benefit from the Welcome Home Loan initiative since its introduced. Korina and Richard brought their first home in Linwood, Christchurch, using a $265,000 Welcome Home Lone which they were able to top up with a gift. Korina said "This is a fantastic opportunity for us. We were struggling to get banks to lend to us, but we persevered with our dream and thanks to the Welcome Home Loan, it’s paid off.

Immigration changes set new focus on family

New immigration policies will make it easier for people to bring family members to visit New Zealand. The changes recognise the importance of family support in making settlement in NZ easier, whilst making the immigration system more transparent, with enhanced character and sponsorship requirements ensure a transparent and sustainable family residence programme. The changes include:

• From November the new multiple visit visa will allow parents or grandparents to make multiple visits over a three-year period without having to apply for a visa each time.
• quota places for sponsoring parents, adult children, and adult siblings to come to NZ as permanent residents
• Stronger character criteria for people wishing to sponsor partners to come to NZ
• A minimum annual income requirement for sponsors of parents
• More time for sponsors to guarantee support for their parents (from 2 to 5 years)
• Withdrawal of existing Family Quota category.

There will be no change to the current distribution of residence places, with 60 per cent for skilled migrants, 30 per cent family related and 10 per cent for NZ's international and humanitarian obligations.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe's media statement and factsheet is here.