Rest and Meal Breaks Bill passes first reading

The Employment Relations (Rest and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill has received its first reading in Parliament.

Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson says legislation passed in 2008 had created a host of problems for businesses and workers due to it being overly prescriptive.

"Unfortunately, the practical implications of the current law simply do not match up with its intentions.

"I have received numerous complaints from workers including teachers, supermarket night-fill staff and healthcare professionals who have been adversely affected since the 2008 law came into force last year.

"The Bill introduced today will address their concerns as it maintains all employees' right to reasonable breaks but offers greater flexibility around when they can be taken.

"It will provide a requirement for employers to either allow for rest and meal breaks that give employees a reasonable opportunity for refreshment, or make compensatory provision.

"Compensation could be made through employees negotiating later start or earlier finishing times or accumulated time in lieu - arrangements that can't occur right now.

"These amendments encourage employers and employees to negotiate terms that best suit their workplace and are more in line with the flexible arrangements that work so well across the country."

The Bill has been referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee for consideration.

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Company executive fined for Fair Trading Act breach

The former managing director of a timber company that has gone into liquidation has pleaded guilty to 36 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to misleading timber retailers and consumers about the characteristics of timber frames and roof trusses. He has been fined a total of $15,000 and has been ordered to pay costs of $130 in the Auckland District Court on 28 April 2010.

Larry Roger Binns was the managing director of Total Frame and Truss Limited, a west Auckland-based company, which supplied computer-designed prefabricated timber wall frames and roof trusses to hardware retailers, independent building companies and contractors throughout New Zealand and particularly in the greater Auckland area.

The charges relate to a period between April 2007 and October 2008 and allege that Total Frame and Truss represented to its customers that the frames and trusses had been manufactured using MSG8 timber. MSG8 is a premium grade of timber that has been machine stress graded and is suitable for building frames. However, at the direction of Mr Binns, the majority of the timber used was a lower grade, known as either non-load bearing or ‘reman’ timber, which does not have the required characteristics of MSG8 timber.

The Commerce Commission commenced an investigation after receiving a complaint from the Department of Building and Housing. A Department of Building and Housing’s investigation was triggered when a building inspector noticed that timber used in a frame was different to that stated on the specifications.

 “All businesses must ensure that the claims made about goods and services are accurate and not misleading. This is of particular importance where claims are not able to be easily verified by an ordinary consumer. It would not have been possible for a consumer to know whether frames and trusses were manufactured using MSG8 timber by looking at a completed product. Reliance was placed on the documentation supplied by Total Frame and Truss. Consumers and other retail businesses alike should have been able to trust the information they received about their frames and trusses,” said Greg Allan , Commerce Commission Fair Trading Manager, Wellington .

The Commission estimates that around 4,000 structures such as houses, garages and new extensions around New Zealand , in particular in the greater Auckland area, were built using frames and trusses supplied by Total Frame and Truss. The Commission has received expert advice that while there is no risk of the frames or trusses failing, there is a possibility that some frames may bend under extreme conditions.

As Total Frame and Truss is in liquidation, many of the businesses that the frames and trusses were manufactured for have taken responsibility for the assessment, repair and maintenance costs associated with buildings where the frames and trusses were used.

“These businesses are to be commended for the responsible approach they have taken to this issue, which was not of their making. They, as well as the consumers, are victims of Mr Binns’ offending,” said Mr Allan.

“This case highlights the fact that, even when a company is in liquidation, if the Fair Trading Act has been breached, company executives can be held to be liable under the Fair Trading Act and may face prosecution. Senior management should ensure that they are familiar with and comply with all relevant legislative requirements. Failure to do so can not only have serious consequences for their companies, but for them personally,” said Mr Allan.

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Fans apply for 325,000 tickets for Rugby World Cup 2011 and rising

Fans have responded strongly to the opening of ticket applications to Rugby World Cup 2011 with total applications to date reaching 325,000 tickets, said Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011).

These numbers are equivalent to filling the redeveloped Eden Park more than five times over.

The figure includes the 190,000 tickets applied for since applications to the global public opened at 9am (NZ time) Tuesday April 27. These represent 53,000 Venue and Team Pool Packs.

This brings the total value of ticket applications to date to NZD$56m. This includes applications from the global public and the New Zealand Rugby Community as well as confirmed sales during March to Provincial Union season pass holders, venue members and box holders.

This excludes any sales already made under the Official Travel and Hospitality sales programme.  The response to the Official Travel programme has also been encouraging with at least 85,000 tickets sold as part of official travel packages.

One fifth of the applications are for Team Pool Packs which tend to be more popular with overseas fans.

“RWC 2011 will be a special time for New Zealanders and for visitors to come to a country passionate about Rugby so the initial flood of applications has been a great vote of confidence in our country’s plans to hold the best Rugby World Cup yet,” said RNZ 2011 CEO Martin Snedden.

Applications for Venue and Team Pool Packs close at 5pm (NZ time) on Friday May 21 in this first phase of public ticketing and all applications have an equal opportunity of success regardless of when the application is submitted.

“This is the best chance for fans to secure the seats they want for RWC 2011 so I hope as many as possible take advantage of this first phase.”

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PEN NZ Calls for the release of Liu Xiabo

The New Zealand PEN Centre joins with many other PEN centres and human rights organisations throughout the world in calling on the Chinese government to release our colleague Liu Xiabo from prison. Mr. Liu has been President of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre since 2003.

He was one of the leaders of the movement that led to the Tiananmen Square confrontation in 1989, after which he was imprisoned for six years. This and repeated terms of imprisonment since then have had no effect on Liu Xiabo’s consistent, peaceful statements favouring freedom of expression for people of all persuasions in China and other countries. Now in his mid fifties, he has developed the profile of one of the world’s leaders in the advocacy of human rights.

The writer and former Czech President Vaclav Havel has nominated Liu Xiabo for the Nobel Peace Prize. The German writer Herta Müller, as winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature last year, is not permitted to make such a nomination but has spoken out vigorously in support of Havel ’s proposal. Others, including Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, have added their voices. All of these writers are members of PEN and we share with them our support of Liu Xiabo.

In December last year, Mr. Liu was again detained for his criticism of China ’s record on human rights. This was because he was one of more than three hundred Chinese citizens who signed “Charter O8”, a manifesto issued on the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in the style of the Czechoslovak Charter 77 and calling for greater freedom of expression, human rights, and free elections.

Diplomats from several countries, including New Zealand , were denied access to the court but stood on the steps outside for the duration of the trial. On 25 December 2009 Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to eleven years’ imprisonment and two years’ deprivation of political rights on charges of "inciting subversion of state power."

In past interviews, Mr. Liu has thanked supporters from outside China and has remarked that the Chinese authorities have been shaken by the force of that support (especially on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Beijing ). For this reason, the New Zealand PEN Centre is adding its voice to those calling both for fair treatment for Liu Xiabo and for the right of the people of China to express their views without fear of repression by the state.

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Court injunction granted against water filter companies

Three companies involved in selling Love Springs branded water filters door to door have been restrained from engaging in conduct which is alleged to breach the Fair Trading Act, as a result of an interim injunction obtained by the Commerce Commission.


The injunction follows a Commerce Commission investigation. The injunction against Auckland based companies Love Springs Limited and Tiny Terms Limited and Palmerston North based Successcorp Limited was granted in the Auckland High Court on Thursday last week.

The injunction prevents the companies and any individual acting on behalf of the companies from making false or misleading representations to consumers. These include representations that tap or bottled water in New Zealand :

 is poisonous;
 is dangerous;
 is sourced from or contains sewage;
 is sourced from toilets;
 has contaminants that are harmful in the levels found in the water;
 causes cancer, leukaemia, miscarriages, deformities in babies, asthma, or other health problems;
 is kept standing for weeks or months before being provided;
 is of a quality or grade other than that determi ned by the Ministry of Health;
contains giardia; or
is in any way unsafe or unhealthy to drink.

The injunction also prevents representations being made that the Love Springs filter would offer health benefits that it does not, such as improving asthma.

While Love Springs and the associated companies can continue to promote and market water filters, this injunction prevents false or misleading claims being made in selling the product. Consumers who feel that they have been misled when purchasing a Love Springs water filter after 22 April 2010 should contact the Commerce Commission on 0800 943 600 or email contact@comcom.govt.nz

The Commission is still considering what, if any, further enforcement action under the Fair Trading Act may be appropriate.

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NZ must follow Australian lead on foreign investment

The Key Government should follow Australia’s lead and tighten foreign investment rules around housing in order to make housing more affordable for New Zealanders, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.

The Australian Government is re-introducing restrictions on foreign ownership of housing. The restrictions mean that foreign citizens must get Foreign Investment Review Board permission to buy housing and must sell the property when they leave.

“Foreign investors have contributed to the speculative bubble in housing prices in Australia and New Zealand over the last five years. This has made housing expensive and inaccessible for ordinary New Zealanders,” said Dr Norman.

“The danger to New Zealand is that if Australia tightens rules on foreign investment in housing, investors may head to New Zealand with our open door foreign investment policy.

“We need to tighten rules around housing and land in order to help make housing more affordable for New Zealand citizens and residents.”

Dr Norman is concerned that if the Key Government fails to act home ownership will continue to be a pipe-dream for the vast majority of New Zealanders under 40.

Figures from the 2001 and 2006 Census show that for those aged under 40, there has been a decline in the proportion of usual residents who owned the dwelling they lived in from 30.2 percent in 2001 to 27.0 percent in 2006.

The Government has announced that it will make changes to the tax treatment of investment property in the up-coming Budget.

“Changing the rules around investment property may assist our overinflated housing market,” said Dr Norman.

“But this will be tinkering at the edges of the problem if we don’t commit to building more state houses and tightening the rules that allow overseas citizens to speculate in the New Zealand real estate market.”

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Ethnic groups projected to grow

Updated projections indicate continued growth of New Zealand's broad and overlapping European, Māori, Asian, and Pacific populations, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Under mid-range series 6 of the updated 2006-base national ethnic population projections, the 'European or Other (including New Zealander)' population is projected to increase by an average of 0.4 percent a year from 3.21 million in 2006 to 3.47 million in 2026; the Māori population by 1.3 percent a year from 620,000 to 810,000; the Asian population by 3.4 percent a year from 400,000 to 790,000; and the Pacific population by 2.4 percent a year from 300,000 to 480,000.

"The different growth rates mainly reflect different age structures, different fertility levels, and different migration patterns," Population Statistics manager Denise McGregor said.

The growth of the Māori and Pacific populations is driven by births, which can be attributed to their higher fertility rates and a younger age structure. By comparison, the slower growth of the European population largely reflects lower fertility rates and an older age structure.

The relatively rapid growth of the Asian population is mainly driven by migration, with net migration contributing about 250,000 people over the 20-year projection period.

Births will account for about 180,000 of the projected Asian population growth.

Ethnic population projections are derived to provide information about New Zealand's changing demographic structure.

They provide information for local and ethnic communities to understand changes in their population size and composition. The projections also assist a variety of planning purposes. Series 6 is one of 11 alternative projections derived for each ethnic group.

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Higher GST bad to Small Businesses

Small businesses have been kept out of the loop on the Government’s decision to hike up GST, the Green Party said today.

The Minister of Finance confirmed that there has been no specific research or consultation with small-medium enterprises (SMEs) before deciding to raise GST to 15%.

“I’ve owned a small business myself and am shocked that so little consideration has been given to this sector when making such a major decision as hiking up GST”, said Green Party Small Business Spokesperson David Clendon.

“What we need is a smart economy with smart taxes that ensures a fair go for everyone. Bumping up GST without hard analysis of the implications will only enlarge the divide between rich and poor.”

SMEs are the cornerstone of the New Zealand economy – approximately 450,000 SMEs make up more than 97% of all businesses and over 600,000 Kiwis are employed by SMEs.

“If the Government had spoken to business owners they would have realised how much disruption a decision like this can create for the industry.

“The GST rise will have immediate and on-going implications, especially so soon after a recession,” added Mr Clendon.

Changing the rate of GST incurs costs for any firm and for smaller businesses these added costs can create a dire financial situation.

 

“To cope with the GST rise, small businesses will need to prepare for inevitable fluctuations to demand and cash flow, major changes to their accounting system, a disjointed tax return and possibly an overhaul of all their product’s prices, which combined is no small task,” said Mr Clendon.

Read the Minister of Finance’s QWA response here: http://ourhouse.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/4/3/c/QWA_02280_2010-2280-2010-David-Clendon-to-the-Minister-of-Finance.htm

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Burmese officials will be loyal foot-soldiers of regime - Green says

Foreign Minister Murray McCully’s failed to reassure refugees from Burma this afternoon that officials representing Burma’s junta would not monitor the political activities of expatriate Burmese in New Zealand, said Green Party MP Keith Locke.

Three officials from the Burmese regime are currently being funded by the New Zealand Government to brush up their English language skills. The officials are being trained in New Zealand.

During parliament’s question time Mr McCully was unable to give any assurance that these officials would not monitor the activities of Burmese dissidents and refugees in New Zealand.

“I am not reassured by Mr McCully’s reference to them as ‘junior’ officials,” said Mr Locke, the Green Party’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson.

“Does he consider that these officials will not be reporting back to their superiors the fact that their $35,000 per head New Zealand taxpayer funded training has been brought to light by a prominent anti-junta activist?

“The junta would only allow its most loyal officials to come to New Zealand, and there is little doubt that they would be tasked to monitor local Burmese who are critical of the regime.”

“Mr McCully could provide no guarantee that there would be no monitoring of local Burmese,” said Mr Locke.

“It is also not acceptable that we are training officials from the Burmese Foreign Ministry, whose role is to present a rosy image of the regime, now – after their training here – with better English.”

“This is also not the time to be rewarding the regime which is refusing to release the democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and shutting her party out of the forthcoming election.

“Governments like the United States are responding with sharper criticisms of the regime.”

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Support Poppy Day, support our veterans

Veterans' Affairs Minister Judith Collins has urged all New Zealanders to support the RSA's Poppy Day street appeal on Friday.

"The RSA Poppy Day appeal is a tangible way to directly assist veterans who have served this country," Ms Collins said.

"Every year, tens of thousands of New Zealanders wear the poppy to honour these brave men and women, and to help support the RSA's welfare services."

Since 1922 Poppy Day has been the RSA's most important fundraising  appeal of the year. More than 200 RSAs from Kaitaia to Bluff will take part and are hoping to raise more than $1 million. 

The proceeds of the appeal help fund specialist medical appointments, hospital and home visits for veterans, glasses, hearing aids and essential dental work.

"The Poppy Day Appeal enables the RSA to provide invaluable assistance for our veterans and their families. I would urge all New Zealanders to support their good work on Poppy Day," Ms Collins said.

Ms Collins will commemorate ANZAC Day at Gallipoli, attending the Dawn Service, the New Zealand National Service and the Australian National Service.

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Waiver of permit fees for stranded travellers

Immigration New Zealand is to waive fees for people needing permits to remain in New Zealand because of the flight delays to Europe, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.

Dr Coleman says that fees have also been waived for those travellers with visas to New Zealand that are about to expire and are unable to travel here because of the disruptions caused by the Icelandic volcano.

‘'We are very sympathetic to the plight of those travellers who have been stranded because of the huge disruptions to flights,'' Dr Coleman says.

‘'Airlines are looking to recommence normal services, but there will still be a backlog of passengers. We don't want to cause any further unnecessary stress to tourists by charging them money to stay in New Zealand longer than they were expecting.''

Dr Coleman says that anyone who has paid for a further visa or permit in the last few days may be eligible for a refund and should contact Immigration New Zealand straight away.

People who need to extend their permits because of the flight disruptions will need to fill in a visitor permit application form.

They can download the form at www.immigration.govt.nz under Latest News or phone the Immigration New Zealand contact centre on 0508 558 855.  Applicants will also need to enclose a copy of their itinerary.

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Hoyts granted clearance to buy Berkeley exhibition business

The Commerce Commission has granted clearance for Hoyts Corporation Holdings (NZ) Limited to acquire the Berkeley film exhibition business from Everard Entertainment Limited.

 

The Commission considered the impact of the acquisition on each of the markets for the exhibition of films to the public on the North Shore of Auckland and the suburbs that comprise the south eastern corridor of Auckland , where Hoyts and Berkeley both operate cinemas.

 

Commerce Commission Chair Dr Mark Berry said the Commission was satisfied that the proposed acquisition will not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in any of the affected markets.

 

The Commission considers that a combination of factors would be likely to constrain the merged entity including competition from SkyCity Cinemas, competition from fringe competitors who operate independent art house cinemas and the major film distributors who supply films to exhibitors.

 

A public version of the written reasons for the decision will be available as soon as practicable on the Commission’s website www.comcom.govt.nz under Public Registers.

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‘Text to win’ company pleads guilty to Fair Trading Act breach

An overseas-based company that ran a series of text to win trivia competitions has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act by not properly disclosing all the terms and conditions related to the competitions. They have been fined $125,000 and ordered to pay court costs of $1,560 in the Auckland District Court yesterday.

From July 2006 to January 2007 TMG Asia Pacific Pty Ltd promoted and operated a series of 14 text trivia competitions in New Zealand .

The competitions were promoted through television advertising which was broadcast on TV1, TV2, TV3, C4, MTV and Prime. The competitions required participants to answer five trivia questions via SMS text to enter a knock-out final round to win a prize.

The initial question to enter was contained in a television commercial, with the following four questions being sent by text to the participant.

The television commercials failed to adequately disclose that, by sending a text to answer the initial question, participants were entering into a premium SMS subscription service, where they would receive five text messages per month charged at $3.00 per message received. This would have been at a cost of a minimum of $15 a month until the recipient opted out.

“To avoid the risk of breaching the Fair Trading Act, disclosure of all terms and conditions relating to a service must be clear and not have the potential to mislead consumers,” said Greg Allan , Commerce Commission Manager Fair Trading, Wellington . “The Commission received a large number of complaints from consumers who were not aware that by answering a trivia question they were both entering a competition and subscribing to an ongoing service.”

“TMG should have ensured that all costs of their services, including those related to an ongoing subscription, were clear so that consumers had all the information they needed to be able to decide whether to take part in the competition,” Mr Allan said. “At the time TMG launched their product in New Zealand the concept of premium interactive services via SMS was relatively new and consumers were not generally aware of the cost implications of these services.”

“Interactive premium SMS-based services are now more common in the New Zealand market and consumers should always check terms and conditions carefully before committing to any service,” said Mr Allan.

“Overseas businesses operating in New Zealand should always seek independent advice to make certain that their products and services comply with all relevant New Zealand legislation,” said Mr Allan.

In January 2007, after being contacted by the Commission, TMG voluntarily ceased broadcasting its advertising and operating its competitions.

At the time TMG also voluntarily refunded consumers who complained directly to them and in December 2009 TMG advertised a further refund scheme. The two rounds of refunds returned approximately $15,000 to affected consumers. TMG cooperated fully with the Commission’s investigation.

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Annual stoppages rise for the first time in four years

The annual number of work stoppages increased for the first time since the December 2005 year, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Twenty-six work stoppages ended in the December 2009 year, compared with 23 in the December 2008 year. Stoppages in the December 2009 year involved 8,705 employees, losses of 13,942 person-days of work, and an estimated $2.4 million in wages and salaries. The 26 stoppages consisted of 20 complete strikes, five partial strikes, and one lockout.

Although the manufacturing industry had the highest number of stoppages in the December 2009 year,the transport, postal and warehousing industry had both the largest number of employees involved and the highest estimated loss in wages and salaries.

Twelve work stoppages ended in the December 2009 quarter, consisting of 10 complete strikes, one partial strike, and one lockout.

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Men and women split on republic- Republican Movement said

"A poll commissioned by the Republican Movement and published today - the Queen's 84th birthday - has found Kiwis are divided on the republic issue, especially by gender" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

44% of men surveyed in the poll stated they wanted New Zealand to become a republic, and did not want Prince Charles to become New Zealand's head of state when the Queen's reign ends, compared with 31% of women. 45% of men and 55% of women supported Charles as King respectively. 8% of men and 11% of women stated they wouldn't answer or didn't know.

"The reason for the gender difference is something of a mystery to us. There is also strong difference between older and younger New Zealanders" continued Mr Holden.

"But whether they support the monarchy or a republic, all New Zealanders deserve the chance to choose who their future head of state is - Keith Locke currently has a Bill before Parliament to let them do just that" concluded Mr Holden.

For more opinion polls, see our page on polling: www.republic.org.nz/polling

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500% increase in dangerous gas

New Zealand's use of the highly toxic and potent ozone depleting fumigant methyl bromide has increased by 500% over the past decade, despite a solemn pledge to reduce our use of this dangerous fumigant, the Green Party said today.

"Europe has banned the use of this dangerous fumigant, and it’s time we followed suit," Green Party Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

The Green party is a member of the Coalition Against the use of Methyl Bromide which is being launched today to campaign for an immediate halt to the use of Methyl Bromide in New Zealand ports.

Methyl Bromide is a highly toxic gas, especially to the lungs and nervous system. It can be fatal, and chronic exposure to it through the air has been associated with a range of neurological effects. Exposure to high quantities of the gas can be fatal.

"The government is breaching our commitments under the Montreal Protocol to reduce our use of this dangerous fumigant. They are allowing more and more of the gas to be used at the nation's ports.

“This puts more workers, the public and the environment at serious risk,” Ms Kedgley said.

The Montreal Protocol requires Parties to “refrain from use of methyl bromide and to use non-ozone-depleting technologies wherever possible. Where methyl bromide is used, Parties are urged to minimise emissions and use of methyl bromide through containment and recovery and recycling methodologies to the extent possible”

In 2001 New Zealand used 51 tonnes in 2001, 170 tonnes in 2006; 289 tonnes in 2008 .

“The controls around the release of the gas at ports were sloppy and grossly inadequate, and were putting the health of hundreds of workers and nearby residents at risk on a daily basis,” said Ms Kedgley

“By releasing this potent ozone depleting gas directly into the atmosphere, we are effectively using the atmosphere as an open sewer.

"Methyl Bromide should not be released directly into the atmosphere, where it destroys the ozone layer. There is absolutely no excuse for this when recapture technology available. The port of Nelson is using this technology and every other port should be required to use it.

Sue Kedgley will be speaking at the Coalition Against the use of Methyl Bromide’s protest action in Piction, Wellington and Tauranga over the next week.

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Big inflation pressures yet to come – CTU says

major inflation pressures on working people are yet to come, the Council of Trade Union said today.

However a 2 percent increase in the cost of living – which is an unchanged annual figure – still highlights the situation of those who have not had any increase in income over the past year.

“Although more and more workers are getting pay rises, there are some who have missed out, yet they have seen the cost of living rise,” said CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg. “In a number of workplaces hours have been cut back and this has also affected take-home pay.”

“The increase in food prices of 1 per cent in the March quarter alone and over 10 percent in the last two years has had a damaging impact on low income families.”

Rosenberg says that the big lift in inflation will occur should the Government increase GST in October. That is predicted to bump annual CPI announced in January 2011 to between 4.5% and 5%. Despite promises that workers will be compensated by tax cuts for the increased cost of living, there is a risk of highly unfair outcomes in the tax package, and this will mean that as skill shortages emerge in 2011, workers facing increased living costs will be seeking fair wage adjustments.

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New Zealand PEN calls for press freedom in Fiji

 

The New Zealand PEN Centre is deeply concerned at the deterioration in the relationship between the military government of Fiji and the press.

 

Since the constitution was abrogated last year, pressure on the media to refrain from all criticism of the government has been intense. With the release of a draft decree on media matters last week, this pressure has grown intolerable and the future for press freedom in Fiji looks bleak. This means that the freedom of the people of Fiji to discuss matters that affect their daily lives is being severely repressed, with all the negative social and psychological consequences that entails.

 

A three-day consultation on the decree is widely considered to be a sham. Members of the media were given insufficient time to prepare their response to the fifty-page document before being asked to comment on it. Any comments they made were ignored in the process of finalising the decree.

 

The government argues that the media will have freedom to say anything provided that they do not undermine the nation of Fiji . This is widely understood to mean that the present regime may not be “undermined” or indeed spoken of in any but the most positive terms.

 

New Zealanders, who are accustomed to full freedom of expression, are appalled by this development in our region. The New Zealand PEN Centre deplores the situation that has arisen in relation to personal freedoms for the people of Fiji and calls on the Fijian government to reconsider its stance.

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Commerce Commission invites Minister to consider Vodafone’s new on-net pricing plan

In response to a query from the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, the Commerce Commission has invited the Minister to consider the launch of Vodafone’s Talk Add-on product in his assessment of whether Telecom’s and Vodafone’s mobile termination access services (MTAS) undertakings should be accepted. 

In February 2010 the Commission recommended that the Minister accept undertakings from Telecom and Vodafone as an alternative to regulation.

In April 2010 Vodafone launched a new Talk Add-on product offering up to 200 minutes to Vodafone New Zealand mobiles and landlines for $12 a month for certain pre-pay plans. This plan is promoted on Vodafone’s website as “just 6 cents a minute to Vodafone NZ mobiles and landlines in New Zealand ”.

The Minister has requested the Commission’s view on whether Vodafone’s new on-net plan is material to concerns identified in the Commission’s final report relating to the issue of whether smaller operators could compete with Telecom’s and Vodafone’s on-net retail rates.

“Since becoming aware of the launch of Vodafone’s new Talk Add-on product last week, the Commission has reviewed the details of, and the type of market behaviour exhibited by, Vodafone’s new Talk Add-on product. The Commission’s initial view is that such a plan, and any market outcomes which may arise from it, may be material,” said Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Ross Patterson.

“Further, the Commission’s initial view is that such a plan may have the potential to affect the basis for the Commission’s recommendation in the final report. The Commission recommended acceptance of the final undertakings as an alternative to regulation on the basis that Telecom’s and Vodafone’s final undertakings would address the competition issues which the Commission identified throughout the MTAS investigation,” said Dr Patterson.

“The Commission has invited the Minister to take account of the Talk Add-on product in his assessment of whether Telecom’s and Vodafone’s final undertakings should be accepted, or whether it is appropriate to request the Commission to reconsider its recommendation in light of the potential impact of Vodafone’s new Talk Add-on product,” said Dr Patterson.

There will be no further comment from the Commission at this stage.

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Food and petrol key contributors to CPI increase

The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.4 percent for the March 2010 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. 

Higher prices for food and petrol were partly offset by lower prices for recreation and culture.

The CPI measures the rate of price change of goods and services purchased by households.

Food prices rose 1.0 percent in the March 2010 quarter, reflecting higher prices for grocery food (up 1.1 percent), in particular milk, cheese, and butter. Prices also rose for fruit and vegetables (up 2.3 percent) and meat, poultry, and fish (up 1.3 percent). The food group recorded its lowest annual price increase since the June 2005 quarter. 

"Although food prices are 1.2 percent higher than a year ago, they are 10.1 percent higher than two years ago," Statistics New Zealand's prices manager Chris Pike said.

The transport group (up 1.1 percent) also made a key contribution in the March 2010 quarter, due to petrol prices rising 6.9 percent. If petrol prices had remained unchanged from the December 2009 quarter, the CPI would have recorded no change. Petrol prices are now at their highest level for 18 months. International airfares fell 8.3 percent; they usually fall in the March quarter, following a seasonal rise in the December quarter. 

Annually, the transport group recorded an increase of 6.4 percent, with higher prices for petrol (up 11.5 percent) and second-hand cars (up 9.9 percent). The recreation and culture group (down 1.4 percent) made the most significant downward contribution in  the March 2010 quarter. This fall was largely the result of lower audio-visual equipment prices (down 7.6 percent), which also fell by a similar amount last quarter.

The CPI increased 2.0 percent for the year to the March 2010 quarter. Non-tradable goods and services rose 2.1 percent. "The annual price rise for non-tradable goods and services, which do not face foreign competition, was the lowest for more than eight years," Mr Pike said.

Tradables (which are imported or in competition with imported goods) rose 2.0 percent in the year to the March 2010 quarter, reflecting higher prices for petrol and second-hand cars.

Statistics NZ visits 3,000 shops around New Zealand to collect prices for the CPI and check product sizes and features.

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Food prices edge up in March

Food prices increased 0.2 percent in the March 2010 month, Statistics New Zealand said today. 

This increase follows a 1.3 percent fall in February and a 2.1 percent rise in January. 

In March 2010, the meat, poultry, and fish subgroup increased 1.3 percent. This was largely driven by higher prices for porterhouse/sirloin steak (up 17.7 percent) and fresh chicken (up 5.0 percent).
 

Porterhouse/sirloin steak prices have rebounded since February, when extensive discounting led to a 17.6 percent fall. Fruit and vegetable prices fell 1.9 percent in March 2010, with prices for apples falling 19.6 percent.

 
Apple prices typically fall by about 20 percent in February and by a further 20 percent in March, as the new season's crop becomes more widely available. This fall was partly offset by higher prices for lettuce (up 21.2 percent).

 
For the year to March 2010, food prices rose 0.3 percent. This is the smallest annual increase since the year to July 2004, when prices fell 0.1 percent. In the year to March 2010, three subgroups recorded increases: grocery food (up 1.1 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 2.3 percent), and non-alcoholic beverages (up 2.2 percent).

 
Prices for fruit and vegetables (down 5.3 percent) and meat, poultry, and fish (down 0.3 percent) fell in the year to March 2010. Annual falls in the fruit and vegetables subgroup have now been recorded for eight consecutive months.

"Although food prices are now 0.3 percent higher than a year ago, they are 8.9 percent higher than two years ago," Statistics New Zealand's prices manager Chris Pike said.

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Time to fix a tax system where millionaires pay less tax than their secretaries

Sam Morgan’s helpful admission that he effectively pays no tax is the reason why the Key Government needs to roll out a comprehensive capital gains tax on Budget day, the Green Party said today.
“It’s not fair to expect income-earning New Zealander’s to carry a disproportionate share of the tax burden while some of New Zealand’s wealthiest individuals pay none,” said Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman.
“A comprehensive tax on all capital gains except for the family home is the fairest way to restore some balance to our tax system.”
Treasury and the Inland Revenue Department have estimated that an additional $4.5 billion could be raised from a comprehensive capital gains tax (CGT) with an exclusion for owner-occupied housing.
“The additional $4.5 billion the Government could raise from a capital gains tax would broaden the tax base and enhance its resilience. Additional tax revenues could be used to ease the tax burden on low income earners, lower debt levels, and enhance public services,” said Dr Norman.
“New Zealand is not a highly taxed country by OECD standards and we currently have too many loopholes in our tax system allowing people to structure their affairs in a way that avoids paying tax. Reducing the top tax rate to align with the company and trust rate is not the most effective way to deal with the issue. A comprehensive capital gains tax is a better, fairer way forward.
“Nearly every other country in the OECD has a capital gains tax. Australia has one. America has one. It’s time we closed the loopholes and encourage productive investment rather than tax avoidance behaviour.
“To paraphrase American billionaire Warren Buffett, a tax system riddled with loopholes, where millionaires pay less tax than their secretaries, invites disrespect and undermines voluntary compliance,” Dr Norman said.
“It’s time to fix our tax system, Mr English.”

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McCully’s backroom aid meddling could hurt frontline efforts

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully’s political interference with independent aid agencies could have disastrous consequences for those working on the front lines, Green Party MP Kennedy Graham said today.

Mr McCully has sent a letter to non-governmental agencies (NGOs) working with two aid funds worth around $26 million telling them that an overhaul of these funds is underway. 

Aid agencies such as Catholic agency Caritas have expressed concern that lives could be endangered by any funding cuts that may eventuate following Mr McCully’s letter.

“The Green Party is concerned that respected aid organisations such as Caritas could see their funding jeopardised by Mr McCully’s decisions,” said the Green Party’s Overseas Development spokesperson Dr Graham.

In his letter to the NGO sector, Mr McCully pointed out that aid programmes were out of step with the Government's goal of driving economic development in the Pacific region.

“Aid programmes in their current format offer a lifeline to many of the poorest people in the Pacific,” said Dr Graham.

“The goal of driving economic development should not mean that aid programmes developed over many years are cancelled.

“Mr McCully seems unable to discern the respective merits of sustainable development from material economic growth.

“In recent comments made to the media the Minister’s personal antipathy to some aspects of the work done by NGOs seems to be driving the current aid overhaul. This promises disaster for the aid effort in the Pacific,” said Dr Graham.

“When dealing with funds that transform and save lives, the Minister needs to take a deep breath and not let his personal antagonism cloud his judgment on foreign aid.”

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Amnesty International welcomes NZ’s official support for Indigenous Rights

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand welcomes the New Zealand Government’s decision to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

 

Amnesty International has campaigned vigorously for New Zealand to officially support the Declaration, which now reaffirms New Zealand’s commitment to advancing the human rights of Indigenous peoples.

 

“The UN Declaration provides a much needed elaboration of human rights standards necessary to ensure the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous peoples, who too often are forced to live in poverty, discrimination, marginalisation and oppression,” says Patrick Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ. 

 

“Critically, the Declaration improves the understanding and realisation of the existing inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples. It does not create new rights but generates renewed hope for a promising and secure future.”

 

The UNDRIP was the result of over twenty years of careful deliberation and negotiation between Indigenous peoples and states and is aimed at promoting the human rights that are most important to Indigenous peoples, especially their rights to traditional lands and resources.  

 

Amnesty International believes that New Zealand’s support for the UNDRIP will contribute significantly towards healing the rifts between Māori and the Government that developed during the debate over the Foreshore and Seabed. The Declaration also provides an effective framework for resolving these types of disputes.

 

“Although the Declaration is not legally binding, supporting it places additional responsibilities on the Government. We look forward to seeing how its principles are implemented in future policies and programmes,” says Holmes.

 

Amnesty International emphasises, however, that New Zealand’s support of the UN Declaration must be unqualified to ensure its commitment to protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples is meaningful.

 

“There must be full engagement with Māori on the concrete measures the Government intends to take to give effect to the Declaration. No better example of the need for timely, meaningful and transparent consultation exists than the current consultation of the Government’s plans to achieve a ‘just and enduring solution’¹ to the issue of the Foreshore and Seabed.”

 

“We intend to closely monitor the implementation of the Declaration, holding the Government accountable for respecting and upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples, and ensuring that the minimum standards are met,” says Holmes.

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Auckland Airport wins prestigious airport marketing awards

Auckland Airport has beaten strong competition to be named the best airport in Asia for international marketing, at the prestigious Routes Asia Airport Marketing Awards, held in Adelaide, Australia last night.

Auckland won the Oceania category, and went on to win the overall Asia regional award ahead of the other category winners from South-East Asia (Singapore Changi), India (Hyderabad), Middle East (King Fahd International) and China/North-East Asia (Seoul Incheon). The awards mean that Auckland Airport has been automatically shortlisted for the World Routes Awards which will be held in Vancouver in September.
 

The awards, voted on by airlines, recognise airports whose marketing efforts have made a real impact on future airline network development plans.
 

Auckland Airport general manager aeronautical business development, Glenn Wedlock, said “We’re pleased that the efforts of the collective New Zealand industry in seeking to develop more effective air services programmes and sustainable markets for growth has been recognised by the airlines. 

As New Zealand’s primary tourism and travel hub, airlines are essential partners in our business, and we share with them and with other key industry partners a mutual goal in growing New Zealand’s major export industry, tourism.”
 

”Auckland Airport made a conscious decision 18 months ago to invest in building up a stronger capability for air services development, and in the past 12 months we have launched three new services on the Tasman, and two new main truck routes in the domestic market, adding around 413,000 seats annually”, said Mr Wedlock, “Our business development team has made significant progress establishing Auckland Airport as a preferred destination, aligning our initiatives with the needs of airlines, and ensuring that we create value for them”.

Mr Wedlock said, “Air services are of critical importance to the New Zealand economy, especially in the areas of trade and tourism. Auckland Airport is working hard with airlines and industry partners to deliver value to New Zealand tourism through our understanding of air service development and our strong relationships with the airlines that fly, or potentially will fly, to New Zealand. By proactively working with airlines on their marketing, we can help raise the “mindshare” for New Zealand and grow tourism traffic.”

Mr Wedlock added, “At Auckland Airport, we are proud of our record of engagement with airlines, and the successes we are achieving for them and for our wider community of stakeholders. This collective market development work will be vitally important for the industry as the key markets that are vital to New Zealand’s tourism sector continue to emerge from the global downturn”.

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Supporting UN Declaration restores NZ's mana

This Government's decision to formalise its support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will help to restore New Zealand's mana in addressing indigenous rights, according to Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples.

Speaking from the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, where he announced the decision this morning (NZ time), Dr Sharples said the UN Declaration sets standards for all nations to aspire to.

"This is a non-binding declaration, which was drafted by indigenous peoples' representatives and negotiated with state parties over more than twenty years. It recognises the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination, to maintain their own languages and cultures, to protect their natural and cultural heritage and manage their own affairs," Dr Sharples said.

"The Declaration is entirely consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi, and our statement of support for the Declaration acknowledges the central role of the Treaty in New Zealand's past, present and future. However, New Zealand was one of only four countries to vote against the Declaration.

"This was a great disappointment to Maori, and called into the question the previous government's commitment to Crown-Maori relationships based on the Treaty of Waitangi. It also undermined New Zealand's credibility on human rights in the eyes of the world," he said.

"Today's announcement restores our mana and our moral authority to speak in international fora on issues of justice, rights and peace," said Dr Sharples.

"It reflects well on the relationship between the National and Maori Parties that this Government has been able to endorse this important declaration. This is a small but significant step towards building better relationships between Maori and the Crown. I hope the same spirit of goodwill can guide us to a resolution of the foreshore and seabed issue, which has also raised concerns at the United Nations.

"I want to pay tribute to the 40-plus Maori delegates, among the many other indigenous people, who have travelled the world since 1988 to help draft the Declaration we are supporting today. This is their day to celebrate," he said.

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Kiwis welcome tourists stranded in paradise

Kiwi hospitality has risen to the challenge as the locals rally around international visitors grounded in New Zealand by the Icelandic volcanic eruption.

And, while many New Zealanders have already opened their homes to stranded international travellers, ex-pat Kiwis are also jumping on the bandwagon with accommodation offers to fellow countrymen stranded overseas.

Offers range from discounted accommodation to free family baches (holiday homes), spare beds or couches, facials, food and transport.

A Kiwi comedian has even offered complimentary tickets to the opening night of his Comedy Festival show.

In Auckland - where most of the Europe and UK-bound travellers are stranded -Tourism Auckland is working to match up more than 130 kind-hearted Kiwi hosts with visitors needing a bed.

So far, 51 travellers - families with kids, retirees and backpackers - have been welcomed into Auckland homes.

Stranded in New Zealand
Tourism New Zealand’s Facebook page ‘Stranded in New Zealand’ has received an overwhelming response from the public and tourism industry, with expressions of sympathy as well as offers of practical help.

"Anyone stranded in Christchurch is more than welcome to bunk down out of the cold with us. Big warm house so plenty of room."

"If anyone in Wellington needs a place to crash, I have a spare room in Newtown, about five minutes from the airport (one double bed, suit single or couple)."

"I have a double bed for free for a couple of weeks and live near a train station and the airport in Auckland."

"I am a Kiwi living in London … I would like to help at this end. We have a free room in West Hampstead."

New Zealand businesses have responded with accommodation and travel discounts such as bed and breakfast at backpackers rates, free dorm beds, half-price bus tickets, and heavily discounted or free entry to popular tourist attractions.

Perfect storm in Europe
Kiwi volcanologist Dr David Johnston, who works as a scientist for New Zealand’s Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS), was attending a disaster planning meeting in France when the volcano erupted.

After a 33-hour overland trip from France to London in the company of many other stranded passengers, Dr Johnston is now stuck in London, waiting for the skies to clear so he can fly home to New Zealand.

"It was like people fleeing from Europe 60 years ago. It was quite a scene, really … everyone’s sharing their stories about their exodus and where they’d come from," he said.

Dr Johnston said that the re-opening of European airspace was very much weather-dependent, and that a "perfect storm" of weather conditions was largely responsible for the flight restrictions. There was a possibility planes could still fly even if the volcano continued to erupt - as long as the weather dispersed the ash cloud instead of letting it hang over Europe.

"The weather is really key to what is happening."

Air travel uncertain
Air travel is likely to remain uncertain - at least for the next few weeks - as the ash cloud from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to spread over European and British skies.

Flights in Europe and the UK have been grounded for days, causing huge disruptions internationally and leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded far from home.

The European Union agreed today (20.04.2010) to partly re-open part of northern Europe’s air space, after dividing the skies into three "zones".

Volcanic ash is a major hazard to airplanes and westerly winds have been carrying ash from Iceland all over Europe. Smoke and ash from the eruption reduces visibility for pilots and debris from the air could get into aircraft engines, causing them to shut down.

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Proposed Fiji media law threatens journalists with jail

The Fijian government will be able to imprison journalists for up to five years, obliterating media freedom, if its Cabinet adopts a repressive draft Media Decree today, says Amnesty International.

“The Fijian government is giving itself a license to imprison or bankrupt its critics. The decree will further restrain the media from reporting government and military abuses, for fear of reprisals through a kangaroo court,” says Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher Apolosi Bose.

The decree will extend and deepen the already widespread censorship provided under the Public Emergency Regulations that have been in force since April 2009.

“Fijian journalists have already been intimidated, threatened and assaulted by the military since media censorship was authorised in April 2009.  Now they could face up to five years in jail or fines big enough shut down a media outlet, through a complaints system controlled by government and not bound by formal rules of evidence,” said Apolosi Bose.

The draft decree was rushed through a three-day consultation, and will likely be approved by the Fijian government in today’s Cabinet meeting.  If made law, the government will exert greater control of media content and media ownership through a powerful new media authority; and journalists, editors and media organisations will be able to be jailed by a tribunal headed by a Presidential appointee.

Amnesty International believes that the decree’s vaguely worded provisions will be interpreted with a view to punishing peaceful critics of the government.

“Going by past experience, the decree’s generic references to national interest and public order simply mean that the media will not be allowed to criticise Fiji’s leaders, members of the security forces, or their supporters and associates,” said Apolosi Bose.

The Fiji Media Industry Development Authority, to be set up under the draft decree, is tasked with ensuring that local media do not publish material that threatens public interest or order; is against the national interest; offends good taste and decency; or creates communal discord.  It will have wide powers of investigation over journalists and media outlets, including powers of search and seizure of equipment.  

The proposed Media Tribunal will decide complaints referred by the Authority, and will be able to impose five year jail terms, and fines of up to USD50,000 for journalists and editors, and USD250,000 for media organisations.  Despite these highly punitive powers, it will not be bound by formal rules of evidence.

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Survey recognises migrant worker contribution

Migrant workers are making a valuable contribution to New Zealand ’s economy with a new survey showing employers rate them highly says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

 

The Department of Labour’s 2009 Employers of Migrants survey released today found 87 percent of respondents rated their migrant employees good or very good. Employers say the positive attitude displayed by migrants and their skills and experience were driving factors behind the high ratings.

 

Over a third of employers also reported that migrant workers had skills and experience that were not available in New Zealand . Nine out of 10 of the employers had at least one migrant on staff and four-fifths had taken on a migrant in the last year.

 

``Migrant workers play a major role in the economy and this survey reinforces the value they provide to employers,’’ Dr Coleman says.

 

``Historically New Zealand has always needed migrants to plug some gaps in our labour market. They provide employers with the staff necessary to fill certain positions which helps businesses to maintain or increase growth.

 

``Their positive impact on the economy is immense. In 2005/06 migrants contributed 68 percent more in taxes than they received in services or benefits which equates to a net $3.3 billion boost to the economy.’’

 

Between 2001 and 2006, 60 percent of New Zealand ’s workforce growth came from permanent and temporary migrants. The survey, completed late last year by 424 employers who have had contact with Immigration New Zealand, assessed the benefits and issues associated with employing migrants.

 

The report also showed one in five employers felt there were no particular challenges to hiring a migrant.

 

The full report is available from: http://dol.govt.nz/publications/research/employer-survey-recruitment-to-retention/

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