National must start investing in job creation rather than following the extremist job slashing policies of their coalition partner ACT, Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei said today.

Figures out today show that the number of people unemployed is at the highest level in 15 years. As unemployment reaches peaks not seen since the 1990s, newspaper reports state that ACT Party Leader and Minister outside Cabinet Rodney Hide claims to have been personally responsible for getting rid of hundreds of public service jobs.

"As unemployment sky-rockets we have a Minister boasting that he has personally cost hundreds of New Zealanders their jobs," said Mrs Turei.

"Thousands of New Zealander’s employment prospects are being damaged as the Government allows its minority coalition partner to set the economic agenda.

"If the Government really cares about unemployment, it should fire Mr Hide and borrow some of our Green New Deal policies which focus on creating rather than destroying jobs.

"A good place to start would be putting money into building more state houses which would both dampen the rising housing bubble and keep skilled trades-people in work."

Mrs Turei also said that as New Zealanders lose their jobs because of extreme right-wing economic policies pushed by ACT, those regarded by the state as unable to work are being readied to drown in an ever deepening labour pool.

Over the weekend Finance Minister Bill English suggested those receiving an invalid’s benefit could be out working. The invalids benefit is paid, to among others terminal cancer patients, multiple amputees, and the blind.

Bill English’s announcement regarding work testing those on the invalid’s benefit came just days after former ACT candidate Lindsay Mitchell pointed out National had failed to implement many of its pre-election welfare policies.

"The aim of this heartless extreme economic policy is to expand the labour market and drive down the wages of all workers," said Mrs Turei.

"The resurgent new right assault on the public sector has already created an ever expanding pool of unemployment.

"High unemployment in New Zealand historically falls disproportionately on young workers, Maori and Pacific islanders.

"Unemployment doesn’t just affect the economy right now, its affects will be felt throughout New Zealand society for years."

Figures released today show the official rate of unemployment has again risen, says the Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.

The Household Labour Force Survey puts the official rate of unemployment at 6.5 percent for the September quarter, up from 6.0 percent on the June quarter.

Paula Bennett says that's in line with what was expected.

"Yes, New Zealand has come out of recession - just. But unemployment tends to lag behind an economy getting back on its feet. Recent forecasts though have unemployment peaking closer to 7 percent, instead of the 8 percent forecast in the Budget.

"We've also seen a drop in the number of people requiring an Unemployment Benefit. For the month of October, the total number dropped below 60,000, to 59,955. In September, 60,600 were on the Unemployment Benefit.

"This Government's investment in 300 more frontline staff at Work and Income has made a real difference in helping people find work. The rate at which people coming through their doors leave without needing a benefit has risen to over 40 percent last week.

"This  - combined with the policies the Government has introduced - is having a real impact. In September the youth benefit numbers were 19,845. Today's October benefit figures show youth unemployment is still high - 19,461 young people between 15 and 24 are on an Unemployment Benefit.

"But that would've been so much higher were it not for our Job Ops and Community Max schemes, which has created nearly 2,400 employment opportunities for young people," Paula Bennett says.

The percentage of working age people on an Unemployment Benefit is 2.1 percent in New Zealand, compared to Australia's 4.5 percent using the latest available data.

Compared to the rest of the OECD, New Zealand's 6.5 unemployment rate is holding up well, although it's dropped a place to 10^th. The OECD average is 8.6

"We know the Unemployment Benefit numbers will rise again, particularly as students join the job market over the summer break. It's too soon to say we're through the worst, but expect to see more rolling maul initiatives from this Government," says Paula Bennett.

Two top New Zealand tourism businesses have been short-listed for international responsible tourism awards.

Tourism operators Whale Watch Kaikoura and accommodation-providers YHA Wellington City have been nominated for the prestigious Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards which will be announced in London on 11 November.

The awards recognise destinations and organisations that are making a positive contribution to their local culture, economy and environment through tourism.

Last year, New Zealand won the 'Overall Winner' and 'Best Destination' categories in the awards.

Responsible Travel
Launched in 2004 by responsibletravel.com, the awards are run in association with headline sponsor Virgin Holidays, and partners World Travel Market, The Daily Telegraph and Geographical Magazine.

Contestants are nominated by tourists, and the awards are open for niche to mainstream tourism activities.

The 13 categories include cultural engagement, conservation of wildlife and habitats, poverty reduction, volunteering organisation, personal contribution, best small and large hotel, and best cruise or ferry operator.

Whale Watch Kaikoura
Whale Watch Kaikoura has been nominated in the ‘best marine environment’ category.

Whale Watch is a multi-award winning nature tourism company based at Kaikoura, a small town on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

Owned and operated by local Māori, Whale Watch offers tourists close encounters with local marine life including the giant sperm whale, seen on 95 percent of outings.

Founded in 1987, Whale Watch has been a key factor in turning around the town’s declining economy. Now a leading tourist destination, Kaikoura offers a diverse range of marine activities which have, in turn, stimulated investment in new accommodation, restaurants, cafes and galleries filled with the work of local artists.

This week New Zealand Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key was on hand to launch the company’s fifth vessel. The expansion of the Whale Watch fleet required the building of a new marina.

YHA Wellington City
Backpackers hostel YHA Wellington City has been nominated in the small accommodation category.

YHA Wellington City is the largest hostel in the YHA New Zealand network of 53 youth hostels.

It is a Qualmark 5-star property with Qualmark Enviro Gold accreditation. The hostel has received New Zealand Sustainable Business Network awards, and was twice named Hostelworld best hostel in Oceania.

Hostel manager Chris Sperring is naturally delighted with making the shortlist.

"Our success as a responsible tourism operator began years ago when we made the initial commitment to look for improvements in the way we did business. In some ways the large projects like our heat exchanger are the easiest. Once they’re installed they just work," Sperring said.

"The hard work is in getting every staff member to think as a responsible tourism operator. When we create an atmosphere where working here is more than just a job, that’s when we do the most for our staff, guests and the environment."

2009 Responsible Tourism Awards

A record 580 organisations, individuals and destinations in 13 categories were nominated for the 2009 awards.

The shortlist was selected by a panel of 13 judges.

The panel was impressed by the willingness of organisations to take responsibility and their efforts to make better places for people to live in and visit, according to Dr. Harold Goodwin, chair of the judges and Professor of Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University.

"Despite the economic difficulties being faced by the travel and tourism industry, responsible tourism continues to move ahead and I’m continually impressed as more is achieved by more people," Dr Goodwin said.

The 2009 Responsible Tourism Award winners will be announced at World Travel Market on 11 November.

The Government has finally acknowledged that there are palm kernel biosecurity risks, including from foot and mouth disease, following Green Party questioning and pressure in past months.

"I call again for an immediate halt to imports of palm kernel, at least until mounting biosecurity concerns about the product have been investigated and eliminated," said Green Party biosecurity spokesperson Kevin Hague.

The Rural News yesterday reported Federated Farmers' biosecurity spokesperson John Hartnell saying that the time between heat treatment and shipment 'provides a window for insect infestation and, worse still, contamination with potential foot and mouth disease bearing material such as soil or animal remains'.

The same article reported that Biosecurity NZ Deputy Director Barry O'Neill has acknowledged 'that there is a hole there' and that MAF Biosecurity is 'working with Australian biosecurity to strengthen the systems in that area'.

"The genuine concerns held by the Green Party and many farmers about the biosecurity risks to New Zealand agriculture from palm kernel have finally been recognised," said Mr Hague.

The Minister of Biosecurity earlier accused the Greens and farmers of 'scaremongering', and described biosecurity risks as 'negligible' because all shipments are heat-treated and fumigated.

"Questioning has revealed that there is a window of time between heat treatment - which happens as part of the palm oil extraction process - and shipment. In that window, there is a significant risk that the kernel can be recontaminated through contact with soil and livestock," said Mr Hague.

"The Minister was relying on heat treatment to eliminate micro-organism risk, but his Ministry now accepts my concerns, that there are risks of post-treatment soil contamination.

"Evidence I have seen shows that kernel is not always in secure containment between heat treatment and shipping - sometimes it is on bare earth and open to animals and insects - so the risk is very real. This is backed up by farmers reporting soil in their palm kernel."

Mr Hague's research and questioning in Parliament has uncovered that:

"I agree with Tim Knox, Director of MAF Biosecurity NZ Border Standards when he said earlier this year 'our border security is not what it should be'," said Mr Hague.

"It's clear that palm kernel poses a major, and unnecessary, risk to our economy and environment, and it's time for the Government to fix that.

"We need to review the lax import health standard and eliminate the risks. This requires storage before shipment to be sterile and independently monitored, and more rigorous inspection at the border.

"The costs of additional biosecurity should be built into the price of kernel, and we should consider a bond or compulsory insurance to protect the New Zealand public from the massive clean-up cost of biosecurity incursions.

"The least the Government can do is halt the import of palm kernel until the risk is eliminated. Our primary industries and environment are not to be gambled with."

Fiji  Acting Head of Mission in Fiji, Kuliniasi Seru Savou had been declared Persona Non Grata by NZ government  and told to leave New Zealand , Foreign Minister Murray McCully confirmed today.

"As a result of the expulsion of Mr Todd Cleaver, New Zealand's Acting Head of Mission and the impact this has had on the New Zealand High Commission in Suva, the High Commission is closed today. It will remain closed while we assess its capability to continue to carry out its main functions.

"I absolutely refute allegations from Suva of any form of victimisation of Judge Wati, which has been used as justification for the expulsion of Mr Cleaver.

"I can confirm that her application for a visa to travel to New Zealand was dealt with by officials within two to three working days, and dispensation granting the visa was signed off by myself and Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman the same day we received the application.

"Furthermore, I can confirm that Judge Wati is currently in New Zealand, where her son is receiving the medical treatment he requires."

Mr McCully said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's travel advisory for New Zealanders visiting Fiji has been changed to reflect today's developments in Suva.

"New Zealanders travelling to Fiji should now be aware that the level of assistance the High Commission can provide to New Zealand citizens may be affected due to the depleted staff numbers," Mr McCully said.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully tonight confirmed that New Zealand's Acting Head of Mission in Fiji has been ordered out of the country by the interim government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

"Late this afternoon firstly the Australian High Commissioner and then New Zealand's Acting Head of Mission were called in by the head of Foreign Affairs in Fiji and told that they would be formally notified tomorrow that they had been declared Personna Non Grata," Mr McCully said.

"The move follows a series of threats from the interim regime over recent days in relation to the effect that travel sanctions are having on members of the Fijian judiciary.

"In New Zealand's case the threats have been in the context of a judge who was recently caught by the travel ban but was granted a medical exemption to fly to Auckland with her daughter, who is currently getting treatment here for a non-emergency condition.

"The New Zealand government will now consider the appropriate steps to take in response to today's expulsion, and also assess the impact of this action on the already depleted resources in our Suva High Commission.

"Last December our Acting High Commissioner and Trade Commissioner were expelled from Fiji -- following the previous expulsion of our High Commissioner -- and at the same time the interim regime declined to roll over the positions of our Police and Defence Attaches," Mr McCully said.