WYSIWYG NEWS - 22 July, 2007

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 22 July, 2007 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer. 

Wellington rarely experiences actual snow. Once or twice in 
the twenty seven years I have lived here, there has been a bit 
of sleet, but snow seems to fall only at the higher altitudes 
of the Tararuas, and now and then on Mt Climie to the East of 
Upper Hutt. Nevertheless, when snow is falling in the hills, 
Wellington experiences bone-chilling cold. Lat night was such 
an occasion. A ferocious Southerly was hammering on the 
windows and from time to time the hammering sound of rain was 
replaced by the harsher rattle of hail. Inside, I was watching 
the All Blacks beating the Wallabies (26-12) in the Tri-
nations/Bledisloe Cup match. Mary was in Queenstown visiting 
our middle son and his family, while our youngest son Anthony 
with his wife Sarah and their children joined me to watch the 
football. Young Cooper was soon asleep in his cot, but Maggie 
(who is a big girl now, at 2½)  was not giving in, and she 
stayed with us till the final whistle. Part way through, 
Anthony was paged to participate in a search and rescue 
operation ... someone had not returned from a hike above Makara. 
He didn't get to see the rest of the match, and instead went 
off to join others in his team, searching for the lost couple 
in the miserable conditions that prevailed. The weather at 
Eden Park seemed not much better, and that may have helped the 
home team, since the Wallabies usually play in more benign 
conditions. With the game over, and everyone but me in bed, I 
was reflecting on the pleasures of family, remembering the joy 
my late father took in his grandchildren. He only ever met the 
eldest of his great grandchildren before he died. (Mary, who 
works in a hospice, always admonishes me if I use any of the 
euphemisms for the plain and honest fact of death).  Dad loved 
his grandchildren, and would be very proud of all five of 
them. I experienced a moment of melancholy thinking how he 
would have rejoiced in his great grandchildren, but was 
consoled by the pleasure he was able to take in his 
grandchildren, each in their turn. Around about then, Anthony 
came back from his search, since the lost couple had been 
found up on Wright's Hill, apparently unharmed but very cold. 
And so we sat together and watched the Silver Ferns (our 
national Netball team, and current world champions) struggle 
to overcome the resurgent Australian team by 67 - 65 in extra 
time. Life is good. 

---- 
Any text above this point, and all subsequent material in 
parentheses, and concluded with the initials "BH" is the 
personal opinion of Brian Harmer as editor of this newsletter, 
or occasionally "GS" will indicate an opinion from our 
editorial assistant. In all cases they are honest expressions 
of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact.  
 
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced 
by kind permission of copyright owner, Newstalk ZB News. All 
copyright in the news items reproduced remains the property of 
The Radio Network Limited. 

Formatting this week is sponsored by Amanda Peet in Canada. 
Thanks again Amanda
----  
On with the News.  
 
Monday, 16 July 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOVT PUTS MEDICINES BILL ON HOLD
--------------------------------

The trans-Tasman Therapeutics Medicine Bill has been put on 
hold by the Government. The proposed legislation seeks to 
establish a regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and 
complementary medicines. It was to be a joint New Zealand and 
Australian Agency. Opponents claimed it would limit choice and 
drive complementary medicine suppliers out of business. State 
Services Minister Annette King has acknowledged the Government 
does not have the numbers to get the bill through Parliament. 
 
(I confess to being a devotee of hard science when it comes to 
medicine, and I regard most suppliers of "alternate remedies" 
as quacks. However, I accept that regardless of my opinion, 
others want to be free to make their own choices. The 
government needs to accept that the other parties see this 
bill as political suicide. Those who follow conventional 
medicine are indifferent, but the people who follow alternates 
are outraged. Politically, it's a no brainer. The bill is 
dead. - BH)

WARNING ABOUT BABY FORMULAS
---------------------------

A name and shame action has been taken by the New Zealand Food 
Safety Authority against a company manufacturing a widely used 
infant formula. The Nutricia Karicare Gold Plus Infant Formula 
has a prebiotic known as FOS which has been approved in 
Europe, but not in Australia and New Zealand. The product has 
been on the market here since January and Nutricia has refused 
to withdraw it. Food Safety compliance director Geoff Allen is 
advising parents to wean their babies off the formula and move 
to another in a gradual manner. The authority says FOS is not 
necessarily dangerous. Mr Allen says the product could only be 
withdrawn if it was proven to be harmful. NZFSA says the 
prebiotic is also in Follow-On Formula.

(Hmm. This seems more like bureaucracy than science. - BH)

CHANGES TO ATTRACT MORE FILMMAKERS
----------------------------------

The Government is moving to keep the film industry attractive 
to international companies. Economic Development Minister 
Trevor Mallard has announced an existing grants programme is 
to be tweaked to make it more alluring. A requirement that at 
least 70 percent of a film's budget be spent in New Zealand is 
being removed. The grant size is also being increased. Mr 
Mallard says New Zealand has some major advantages, but says 
more needed to be done to stay internationally competitive. He 
says the incentives are better in Australia and Canada. Mr 
Mallard says the changes do not quite bring New Zealand level 
with the two nations, but will help attract movies. Mr Mallard 
says the aim is to retain quality and scale, rather than 
subsidize marginal movies most people would not want shown on 
TV.

STORMS DESTROYS $2.5M INFRASTRUCTURE
------------------------------------

Last week's storm has cost Whangarei District Council an 
estimated $2.5 million in damaged infrastructure. More than a 
month's worth of rain fell within 24 hours in parts of 
Northland, causing widespread flooding. Whangarei District 
Council estimates it caused $1 million in damage to roads, 
$1.3 million for parks, and $200,000 on wastewater and 
property. It comes three months after the last storm, which 
cost $7 million dollars in damage.

DOCTORS WANT MORE MONEY
-----------------------

Senior doctors say it is getting increasingly difficult for 
New Zealand hospitals to compete with their Australian 
counterparts. Doctors on the North Shore and Waitakere 
Hospital will be the first to begin walking off the job 
tomorrow in a series of stopwork meetings to push for a pay 
rise. Senior doctors say that if district health boards do not 
give them an increase, it will cost the health system more in 
the long run as doctors will head overseas for better pay and 
conditions. Executive Director of the Association of Salaried 
Medical Specialists, Ian Powell, says other countries are 
offering attractive packages. He says one member of the 
association was offered twice the salary he is earning in New 
Zealand, plus housing, a car, a cellphone and a week off for 
every three he worked. Mr Powell says packages worth $300,000 
a year are not uncommon in Australia.

(I'd like more money too, and a new fuel efficient car, but I 
doubt I'll get either in the near future. - BH)

FEWER THAN EXPECTED TAKING UP KIWISAVER
---------------------------------------

Research suggests just 35 percent of people plan to subscribe 
to KiwiSaver in the next 12 months. A poll by Research New 
Zealand taken days before KiwiSaver officially started on July 
1, questioned around 400 people about whether they intended to 
join the scheme within the next year. It shows 35 percent had 
or intended to sign up within 12 months but that young people, 
women and those on low incomes were less likely to join. Forty 
percent of men and 31 percent of women had or would join 
within a year. Of those aged 18 to 39 a quarter said they had 
or planned to have a KiwiSaver account as opposed to 45 
percent of 40 to 49-year-olds and 43 percent of 60 to 65-year-
olds. The main reasons for not joining included respondents 
not being able to afford to or already being part of a 
retirement savings plan. Emanuel Kalafatelis, director of 
Research New Zealand says Treasury was banking on 50 percent 
of people signing up and must be concerned that key groups 
such as young people and those on low incomes are not taking 
up the scheme. "Because people say they will join up to 
KiwiSaver does not mean that they will act on their intention. 
The actual rate of uptake over the next 12 months will depend 
on how well KiwiSaver and KiwiSaver financial products are 
marketed." 
 
(I am still undecided. At my age it seems less useful than it 
would be if I were 21 again. - BH)

GREENS WARN OF OIL EXPLORATION DANGERS
--------------------------------------

The Greens claim there will be no major economic benefits from 
any oil found in the Great South Basin off the coast of 
Southland and that exploration puts the region's ecosystem at 
risk. Exploration permits have been awarded to a consortium 
led by ExxonMobil and a group led by OMV of Austria. Greens 
co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says while there will be 
economic benefits for the immediate area, they are not 
something the whole country can reap. She says oil companies 
and not New Zealand will own the oil and it will have to be 
purchased at world prices. Ms Fitzsimons says the 
environmental implications of exploration are huge, because 
should a spill occur it would be nearly impossible to clean up 
because of the rough weather the region can produce. She 
believes the implications of oil exploration need to be fully 
evaluated and that the Government needs to demand hefty bonds 
from companies that will cover the cost of any clean up 
effort. 
 
(the notion of "world prices seems to escape the public. They 
complain vigorously about the price of milk, whereas the 
farmer who can choose between supplying a price-controlled 
town milk supplier or an export factory suffers no such 
confusion. Unless the price for town milk matches that offered 
by the exporter, guess who is going to get the supplies. 
Royalties for oil ought to be a different question. - BH)

Tuesday, 17 July 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CULLEN: DOLLAR SIGNIFICANTLY OVERVALUED
---------------------------------------

With the dollar hitting another high of just over 79 US cents 
overnight, the Finance Minister says it is now significantly 
overvalued. Michael Cullen says the New Zealand dollar is a 
small and liquid currency which tends to be volatile. He says 
that should be appreciated by those who keep investing in it, 
which forces the value up. Dr Cullen says they have to realise 
a correction will have to occur at some stage and they are 
exposed to risk. Dr Cullen says he appreciates the dollar's 
influence on higher interest rates is putting the squeeze on 
many households. He says that could have an effect on the 
uptake of the KiwiSaver scheme. 
 
(I think there is a certain circularity here. Many people are 
buying NZD precisely because of the high interest rates. - BH)

ANTI-SATIRE RULES COME INTO FORCE
---------------------------------

New rules for the filming of Parliament come into affect 
today. TV channels have been told they cannot show satirical 
shots of MPs that would denigrate or ridicule them. House 
leader Michael Cullen says the rules will hopefully prevent 
the channels from using shots out of context. Dr Cullen has 
taken a swipe at Wellington's Dominion Post, for showing a 
photograph of Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Samoan garb 
last week when he was sworn in as a chief and inviting readers 
to write captions. He says the paper clearly thinks that is 
satire or ridicule, when in reality it is not half as silly as 
someone wearing the outfit for a Knight of the Garter.

(Is that "into force" or "into farce"? Politicians have made 
themselves contemptible in many eyes over this nonsense. - BH)

PSYCHIC HOTLINE ADDICTS SPENDING LARGE
--------------------------------------

Research from Auckland University could signal problems for 
the psychic hotline industry. A global study is underway to 
see if there needs to be regulation imposed to protect users. 
Preliminary findings in New Zealand found the lines are mostly 
used by women, some of whom are spending up to $1,500 a call, 
and up to $33,000 a year. Dr Robin Shepherd says many of those 
calling are insecure and really need some reassurance, which 
is what traps them. She says once they call one psychic then 
they have to call another to check the first psychic got the 
predictions right. Dr Shepherd thinks now is the time for some 
form of regulation within the industry. She thinks there needs 
to be self exclusion programmes for users as well as 
counselling. She also believes the psychics should stop 
advertising under entertainment, as that is misleading. 
 
("Industry"? Is there really a "psychic industry"? How is it 
different to an industry of chicken entrails analysts, or 
witchcraft. - BH)

MAYORS DISMISS ONE AUCKLAND PLAN
--------------------------------

There has been a lukewarm response from an Auckland mayor to 
the launch of the Fix Auckland plan. The campaign would see 
the abolishment of Auckland's eight councils with one council 
in its place. A mayor would be elected and 21 community 
councils put in place. Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis is 
concerned the creation of one body could lead to confrontation 
with the Government. He believes a body representing around 
one million people in Auckland would only be viewed as a 
competitor and could be detrimental to what the region 
actually needs to achieve. However Sir Barry agrees there has 
to be changes to local governance in Auckland. He says the 
Auckland region has to get away from the seven units of local 
government with an ineffective regional governance structure. 
Sir Barry Curtis believes a three council governance is the 
best way to proceed. North Shore city Mayor George Wood agrees 
that one council is not practical says because of the nature 
of the region. He believes North Shore City could be 
substantially financially disadvantaged. Mr Wood says the 
chances of doing anything before the upcoming local body 
elections are non-existent. 
 
(And of course, self interest doesn't come into this, right? 
The population that would be served by the super city would be 
in the order of 1.2 million. That certainly doesn't seem to be 
unmanageable in other parts of the world. Why is Auckland, or 
for that matter Wellington with its five regional councils and 
regional council so different? - BH)

AFTER HOURS CENTRES UNDER PRESSURE
----------------------------------

Hutt Valley's after hours medical centre may close because 
patients are opting for free hospital treatment. The threat 
comes as Hutt Hospital struggles to cope with surging demand 
at its emergency department. The nearby after hours centre 
sees on average just five patients a night and chairman Dr Stu 
Thomson says waiting times are much shorter than the hospital, 
but fees can be up to $75. He says the Government needs to 
address the issue of funding after hours care, as centres 
cannot continue to run on the current financial basis. Dr 
Thomson plans to talk with the Hutt DHB and reassess the 
situation over the next few months before making a decision on 
the future of the service.

DAIRY FARMERS UNFAIRLY BLAMED
-----------------------------

The chairman of Dairy Farmers of New Zealand has told 
Federated Farmers' AGM in Auckland that the outlook for the 
country is far from certain. Frank Brenmuhl says it is vital 
the balance of payments deficit be addressed through allowing 
the export sector to flourish. He says the dairy industry 
provides the best chance to grow New Zealand's economy but the 
sector must minimise its environmental footprint. He believes 
the industry is doing its part through a reduction on the 
application of fertiliser, fencing off waterways and managing 
farm effluent correctly. But Mr Brenmuhl says agriculture is 
being unfairly blamed for 49 percent of the country's 
greenhouse gas emissions which fails to reflect the offset 
from soil carbon stored under farm pasture and tree plantings. 
On the issue of income, he says while next season's payout for 
dairy products is much improved, costs for items such as 
fertiliser, continue to rise. Mr Brenmuhl says the future for 
dairy farming holds out huge potential for the country to lift 
its economic performance and New Zealand's ranking in the 
order of OECD countries, but political help is needed to make 
it happen. 
 
(While it is flourishing, I say good luck to them. What I 
hope, is that the business venture in which they are engaged 
has risks just like any other, and that the taxpayers don't 
owe them a bail-out when profits are no so good - BH)

AD TRIES TO SHAME DHB STAFF
---------------------------

The Canterbury District Health Board is standing by its staff 
in spite of an attempt to name and shame some of them. An 
advertisement in a newspaper on Saturday offered a reward for 
anyone who could name the doctors and nurses who treated 25-
year-old Dean Carroll at Christchurch Hospital's emergency 
department in April. Mr Carroll died of blood poisoning after 
being sent home with an undiagnosed spinal abscess. The man 
who placed the ad has no connection with Mr Carroll's family. 
CDHB says an independent and transparent review found no 
evidence of any neglect on the part of the nursing or medical 
staff that contributed to the man's sad and untimely death.

(While I am not comfortable with this particular little lynch 
mob, I have the view that the people who make decisions on our 
behalf, Pharmac, Transit NZ, Parole boards etc, should put 
their names out front to be held accountable for the decisions 
that they make. - BH)

COST OF LIVING BEGINS TO BITE
-----------------------------

Inflation, KiwiSaver and higher interest rates are beginning 
to bite. Restaurants and bars are noticing a drop off in 
patronage as people's discretionary dollar starts to dry up. 
Bruce Robertson, chief executive of the Hospitality 
Association, says the organisation's latest survey of members 
shows things are getting tougher with a drop off in spending 
in accommodation, meals and drink. He says with figures out 
yesterday showing inflation higher than expected and the 
continuing rise of the New Zealand dollar, there is every 
chance things will get worse before they get better. He says 
KiwiSaver is also causing concern because people joining the 
scheme will have even less discretionary income. The Reserve 
Bank reviews interest rates next week and economists predict 
Governor Alan Bollard will have no choice but to raise 
interest rates again.

Wednesday, 18 July 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

NATS CLAIM BACKDOOR ELECTION REFORM TACTICS
-------------------------------------------

The Government is remaining tight lipped over the state of 
play on election finance reform. National Party deputy leader 
Bill English is not happy National has not been consulted on 
draft legislation due to come before Parliament later this 
year. He claims leaks from the Government show Labour has 
bought support from United Future, New Zealand First and the 
Greens by giving them more say over the allocation of campaign 
TV advertising. Mr English says in exchange, the parties will 
support Labour's draconian proposals to ban third party 
campaigns and only allow small political donations to be 
anonymous. Minister of Justice Mark Burton will not be drawn 
on exactly when the legislation will be presented nor will he 
comment on it is content. But he says Labour is not playing 
favourites. He says he is trying to ensure there is 
Parliamentary support to get the bill to select committee. 
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says their position 
is to get rid of anonymous donations and restrict personal 
donations stands. She will not comment on the claims a deal 
has been struck. United Future says the negotiations have been 
standard. Leader Peter Dunne says election finance reform has 
been part of discussions, but says it is not the sort of thing 
that could be described as a deal. He says there have been 
negotiations over the sorts of things that might need to be 
addressed if the bill is to get majority support.

FIXED EXCHANGE RATE MOOTED FOR $NZ
----------------------------------

There is a warning that something has to give, as the New 
Zealand dollar cannot keep climbing. It is today sitting just 
over 79 US cents, with many experts predicting it will hit 80. 
Dr Steve Hanke from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, 
says the New Zealand dollar cannot be allowed to go to the 
moon, which means some financial controls. His preference is 
for a fixed exchange rate, such as in Hong Kong. He says that 
would be a complete change for the New Zealand currency 
regime. It comes as the business world is calling for less 
hand-wringing and more leadership from Government over the 
dollar. Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association chief 
Alasdair Thompson says it has reached critical levels for many 
exporters, representing a third less revenue.

DOCTOR RETENTION HEADACHE
-------------------------

New figures further highlight New Zealand's problem retaining 
its medical workforce. Statistics from a report into the 
medical workforce in 2005 have been made public. They show 82 
percent of New Zealand-trained doctors stay in the country two 
years after graduating. The figure drops to 74 percent after 
three years. Up to 70 percent of those leaving go to 
Australia. A major factor for the exodus is debt, with some 
medical students accruing costs of up to $100,000. It is not 
just locally-trained doctors causing retention headaches; less 
than half of overseas trained doctors stay in New Zealand for 
more than a year after being registered. The Medical Council 
and Medical Association agree more incentives are needed to 
retain doctors. Serious thought also continues to be given to 
shortening the medical degree. 
 
(The last point is scary. - BH)

COAL MINERS LOCKED OUT IN HUNTLY
--------------------------------

Two hundred Huntly coal miners have been locked out of a mine 
operated by Solid Energy contractor Henry Walker Elton. 
Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union secretary Andrew 
Little says on the back of a lockout of a thousand hospital 
workers, the miners' case represents a new level of militancy 
on the part of New Zealand employers. Mr Little says the 
miners have been trying to reach a deal with Henry Walker 
Elton for months and six of Solid Energy's other contractors 
have already settled. He says the lockout ban is an over the 
top reaction to low level industrial action in the form of an 
overtime ban.

SOUTH ISLANDERS GET RESPITE FROM FREEZE
---------------------------------------

The Government is introducing measures to make around 20,000 
thousand South Island households eligible for cheaper power 
bills. It is raising the threshold for Low Fixed Charges 
eligibility from 8,000 kilowatts an hour per year, to 9,000 
for domestic consumers in Christchurch and south of the city. 
Energy Minister David Parker says while around 50,000 South 
Island households already benefit from the limit, another 
20,000 should be eligible under the higher threshold. He says 
people in the lower South Island generally use more 
electricity than those in warmer parts of the North Island, 
especially during winter. Mr Parker says the original 
threshold means a large number of people in the south have not 
been eligible for lower fixed charges and the Government wants 
to rectify the situation.

COUNCIL AIMS FOR CARBON NEUTRAL
-------------------------------

Auckland City Council is planning to spend a million dollars 
to encourage Aucklanders to think green. The council is 
considering a three year plan of action that will commit the 
council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Deputy Mayor Bruce 
Hucker says the plan includes incentives to increase energy 
efficiency in homes and businesses and reduce waste going to 
land fill. The next stage will be to set specific targets. Mr 
Hucker says the long term plan is for Auckland City to become 
carbon neutral.

MAORI URGED TO BECOME PROGRESSIVE
---------------------------------

Former Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels is urging Maori to 
rethink their attitudes as he prepares to leave the political 
stage. The list MP has confirmed he will not stand at the next 
election and is calling for younger Maori to stand up and be 
counted in politics. Mr Samuels says a shift in attitude is 
needed with Maori being more progressive and not locked into 
the chains of the past and Treaty of Waitangi grievances. He 
says there has been a lot of mileage locked into grievance 
issues, with financial advantages for certain people who have 
had their noses in the trough forever. Mr Samuels believes 
Maori should be looking to the future and building on their 
expertise to drive their people forward.

CONSULTANTS' BILL UNACCEPTABLE SAYS NATIONAL
--------------------------------------------

National says a multimillion dollar consultants' bill for the 
Ministry of Social Development is unacceptable and will be 
addressed if the party wins the next election. Welfare 
spokeswoman Judith Collins has released figures showing the 
ministry has spent almost $40 million on contractors and 
consultants in the three years ending in June 2006. She says 
over the past six years, 194 extra policy staff and 31 more 
communications staff have been hired staff. Ms Collins 
believes current staff should be doing the work that is going 
to consultants. Ms Collins says the hiring of consultants goes 
against pledges made by Prime Minister Helen Clark that 
government departments would not routinely hire contractors to 
look after their core functions. Ms Collins says frontline 
staff at the ministry are doing the best they can and it is 
not helpful when there are massive increases in bureaucracy 
and spin doctors. National says the department's consultants, 
policy analysts and PR staff could be culled if the party 
becomes the government. 
 
(Both Labour and National have spent much of their time in 
office in the last 20 years urging a reduction in the number 
of civil servants. They can't have it both ways. If you reduce 
the numbers, the capacity diminishes, Then you must either 
reduce services or outsource the work. - BH)

CHANGES TO EVIDENCE RULES
-------------------------

Sweeping changes to the way evidence is offered and used in 
court come into force today. The Evidence Act is being 
described as a commonsense piece of legislation that clarifies 
many rules that have developed in a piecemeal fashion over 
many decades. Convener of the Criminal Law Committee of the 
Law Society Jonathan Krebs says an example is the procedure 
surrounding the disclosure of previous convictions, where 
there have been very strict and sometimes conflicting rules 
about the circumstances in which such evidence can be 
presented. In another change, spouses will no longer have 
immunity from giving evidence. Justice Minister Mark Burton 
says the changes remove historical anomalies and bring the law 
up to date.

Thursday, 19 July 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANTI MEDICINE BILL ADS MISLEADING
---------------------------------

A campaign against the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill 
has been deemed misleading by the Advertising Standards 
Authority. The advertisements claimed the bill, which would 
have placed regulation of the products in the hands of an 
Australian dominated body, would lead to 60 percent of 
products being taken off shelves. The Authority found the 
claim was untrue, as was the suggestion of significant job 
losses. Michelle Beckett of Natural Products New Zealand laid 
the complaint. She says she is pleased with the decision, 
although it is a bit late since the bill is now off the 
parliamentary agenda. She says it is unfortunate opponents of 
the bill have continued to advertise in the same way.

HOSPITALS RAISE FLU ALERT LEVEL
-------------------------------

The pressure from winter ailments is starting to show at 
Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals, which have today elevated 
their alert status to 'Code Red' - the point at which the 
hospitals are required to activate their pandemic response 
plans. Both hospitals still have beds available, but do not 
have enough staff to care for any more patients unless they 
are urgent cases. The situation is made worse by around 20 
nurses being off work, mostly because of illness. Capital and 
Coast DHB is also issuing a plea for qualified nurses to step 
forward and help. Dr Robyn Toomath from Wellington Hospital 
says they can still cope with urgent cases like people with 
chest pain, shortness of breath and trauma. However, less 
urgent cases will have to wait longer than usual. Elective 
surgery is also being postponed. There are four levels of 
alert covering an influenza pandemic. The lowest is Code 
White, which is primarily for information and advice and is 
used in pandemic preparedness. Code Yellow is a standby phase, 
when there are developments in the virus overseas or isolated 
cases in New Zealand. Code Red is known as the response phase, 
and Code Green is a notification to stand down and move into 
the recovery phase.

COUNCIL'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONCERNS
------------------------------------

The National Council of Women is raising concerns about 
worsening levels of domestic violence. In a report to be 
presented to the United Nations next month, the council warns 
of a marked change for the worse in the social and political 
climate for women in New Zealand. It says some of the gains 
made in gender equality are being eroded, and claims sexist 
attitudes such as the 'Old Boys Network' still prevail. 
Spokeswoman Beryl Anderson says their big concern is domestic 
violence. She says rates of reporting of domestic violence 
have risen 17 percent in the last four years, with a woman 
killed roughly every five weeks. Ms Anderson says the success 
of prominent women such as the Prime Minister and Chief 
Justice are often cited as evidence women have achieved 
equality with men. She believes this is a false perception, as 
women are not well represented in the second and third tiers 
of many organisations. However the claims are being scoffed at 
by United Future's Judy Turner. She says the comments are 
simply those of feminist groups trying to justify their 
existence, and push for more state funding. Judy Turner says 
portraying women as victims is not helping the social climate, 
and issues affecting men hardly get mentioned. The NCWNZ was 
formed in Christchurch in 1896, three years after women first 
got the vote. Suffrage leader Kate Sheppard was its first 
president.

STRIKES HIT MINES
-----------------

A wave of strikes is underway at Solid Energy mines across the 
country. The Engineering, Printing and Mining Union says the 
action is being taken in response to a lockout by Solid Energy 
contractor HWE at the Rotowaro mine in Huntly. Most coal from 
the mine goes by rail to Huntly power station, and to New 
Zealand Steel's Glenbrook mill. The remainder supplies 
domestic and industrial markets in the North Island. Miners at 
Huntly East are also striking, as are staff at Spring Creek 
mine on the West Coast which supplies the Japanese steel 
making industry, and the Terrace and New Vale mines which 
supply South Island customers. HWE Mining is owned by the 
Australian company Leighton Contractors.

PLASTIC LORDS IT OVER KING CASH
-------------------------------

EFTPOS and credit card spending continues to grow, with 
transactions worth $4.4 billion conducted using electronic 
cards last month. Statistics New Zealand says New Zealanders 
swiped their cards 77 million times during June. Seasonally 
adjusted, the value of transactions grew by half a percent 
over the figure for May, and was eight percent higher than the 
amount in June last year. However, the rate of growth is 
slower than it has been. The increase is the smallest annual 
jump since figures were first kept in 2002. Statistics New 
Zealand says the overall trend not only reflects consumer 
spending, but also changes in payment technology. The figures 
include spending by overseas card holders in New Zealand, but 
not of New Zealand card holders overseas.

RAIL SAFETY CAMPAIGN BEING LAUNCHED
-----------------------------------

A major rail safety campaign will be launched in the 
Manawatu/Wanganui region. The Chris Cairns Foundation has 
produced 11 billboards which will be featured across the 
region, urging motorists to take care when approaching railway 
crossings. Sue Foley, Toll Rail's corporate affairs manager, 
says a collision is a train driver's worst nightmare. She says 
it takes an entire kilometre to bring a fully laden freight 
train to a stop. In the most recent fatal incident, South 
African immigrants Brent and Renee Coombes were killed when a 
freight train hit their car as they drove through a crossing 
at Ohingaiti south of Taihape. Their five-year-old daughter 
Reef survived the crash. The Chris Cairns Foundation was 
established after the high profile cricketer's sister Louise 
died when a concrete truck went through a crossing and hit the 
train she was a passenger in.

COUNCIL RATE HIKES BECOMING UNAFFORDABLE
----------------------------------------

An independent inquiry looking into the costs of living in 
different council areas shows many homeowners will not be able 
to afford their rates bills ten years from now. The inquiry, 
which was commissioned by the Government, is due to release 
its official findings in a few weeks. It comes as councils 
across the country impose rates hikes well in excess of the 
rate of inflation. A spokesman from the inquiry team says 
rising infrastructure cost are pushing up rates to levels 
never seen before. The report is expected to suggest local 
bodies pull in their expenditure and make some recommendations 
as to how that might be done. One option is for the Government 
to consider funding expensive water supply projects. The 
report also looks at the impacts of rates rebates schemes.

RANDOM TESTS OF CHINESE FOOD UNLIKELY
-------------------------------------

The Green Party is not getting very far with its call for 
random tests on food imported from China. Chinese authorities 
have admitted nearly a fifth of food and consumer products 
checked in China are substandard or tainted. Cases which have 
come to light recently include toothpaste containing 
diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent that is a component 
in antifreeze, pet food laced with melamine, toys coated with 
lead-based paints, batteries prone to exploding, substandard 
car tyres and fish containing high quantities of antibiotics. 
Food Safety Authority deputy chief executive Sandra Daly says 
random testing would be like looking for a needle in a hay 
stack and add huge cost to consumers. She says a system is 
already in place where high risk foods are stopped and checked 
and there has not been anything to indicate Chinese food 
imports are unsafe. The Greens say it is imperative the 
Government introduces country of origin labelling so people 
concerned about the safety of Chinese food can choose to avoid 
it.

DATA MATCHING TO STOP WELFARE RIP-OFFS
--------------------------------------

New laws are on the cards to stop prisoners ripping off the 
welfare system. The Government is introducing new legislation 
aimed at improving data matching between ACC, Customs, the 
Ministry of Social Development and the Corrections Department. 
Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope says it has not 
always been possible to stop welfare payments to prisoners, 
who are not eligible to get them, because they have not told 
welfare agencies they have been imprisoned. He says improving 
the data matching system will further ensure the integrity of 
the benefit system.

FUNDING FOR NEW CANCER PROJECTS
-------------------------------

A University of Auckland research programme for two new cancer 
drugs has been given a $4.1 million cash injection. Scientists 
have been carrying out research which focuses on targeting 
cells in malignant solid tumours that are starved of oxygen 
and how this can be exploited to treat the tumour without 
harming healthy cells. The Foundation for Research, Science 
and Technology will fund the development of prodrugs, which 
reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy. Foundation spokesman 
David McLoughlin says the funding will also go into current 
and future clinical trials for a new drug called Proacta, 
which is designed to fight a variety of advanced tumours. He 
says investment in New Zealand clinical trials will help local 
companies secure future toxicology development contracts.

RMA COSTING FARMERS MILLIONS
----------------------------

Federated Farmers has launched another attack on the Resource 
Management Act, claiming the legislation is holding up 
progress and costing farmers millions of dollars. President 
Charlie Pedersen says the act is a very large ticket item, 
slowing down farmers' ability to grow their business and there 
is an urgent need to make fundamental changes. He says some 
farmers go ahead with developments without applying for 
resource consent because the RMA is too cumbersome. Mr 
Pedersen estimates the act is costing farmers $81 million a 
year and the total direct cost and lost revenue to farmers 
since it came into force is around $241 million. He says 
research shows 73 percent of farmers believe the act and how 
local councils apply it should be changed. He says too often 
the whole process slows down the ability to take businesses to 
another level and make changes that are beneficial to the 
economy. Mr Pederson says the RMA has been amended 15 times in 
16 years and it is time to stop tinkering around the edges and 
make fundamental reforms. 
 
(Slowing down the ability of people to do exactly as they want 
is precisely what the act is designed to do, and long may it 
continue. We have seen recent evidence of developers simply 
ignoring the provisions of their permits, to the detriment of 
the public. - BH)

AFFORDABILITY GAP BEING SQUEEZED
--------------------------------

There is more bad news for people with a mortgage. A monthly 
study of home affordability by the website www.interest.co.nz 
has found the cost of meeting mortgage payments has rocketed. 
It now costs around 80 percent of the average take home pay 
package - simply to cover the cost of the average mortgage. 
Researcher David Chaston predicts there could be more misery a 
week today when the next OCR is revealed. He says if the 
Reserve Bank continues to raise the OCR, home affordability 
will drop as mortgage rates increase.

Friday, 20 July 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ECONOMIST SLAMS POLITICIANS' MISINFORMATION
-------------------------------------------

A leading economist is criticising politicians for spreading 
misinformation on the current state of the dollar. BNZ's Tony 
Alexander says Parliament has lost sight of the fact interest 
rates need to rise. He says the rhetoric from MPs is at best 
unhelpful, and at its worst - downright misleading. The 
economist is refusing to point the finger at a specific 
politician. Mr Alexander says stopping the Reserve Bank from 
targeting inflation is not a silver bullet answer. He says New 
Zealand took that approach in the 1970s and early 80s, and the 
country then went down the OECD ladder. Mr Alexander says it 
is up to the central bank to act by increasing interest rates, 
rather than trying to change people's feelings about whether 
they should buy plasma TVs.

UNION FEARS RAMIFICATIONS OF SETCHELL CASE
------------------------------------------

Despite assurances to the contrary, the Public Service 
Association is concerned people will be shut out from the 
public service if they have connections to anyone who is 
politically active. It follows the case of Madeleine Setchell, 
who lost her job as head of communications at the Environment 
Ministry after just three days, as her partner is the press 
secretary for National Leader John Key. The State Services 
Commissioner says it would be wrong to conclude anyone with 
political family connections is unwelcome in the public 
service. PSA secretary Brenda Pilott, says that reassurance 
has a hollow ring to it, given the way the Setchell case has 
been handled. 
 
(I have the pleasure of Ms Setchell's acquaintance, and I am 
sure she would rather not be providing news than being the 
subject of it. Her case seems to have been atrociously 
handled. - BH)

POOR POORER, MIDDLE BETTER OFF
------------------------------

There is a widening gap between poor and middle income 
households. Data from a study of household income and hardship 
trends between 1982 and 2004 has found incomes for poorer 
families with children have remained static. It says median 
poverty rates are worse now that what they were in 1998. 
Researchers say the widening gap between poor and middle 
income households is because housing costs make up a higher 
proportion of household expenditure for low income families. 
Solo parent families have the highest poverty rates of all 
household types, while two parent families have much lower 
poverty rates. Child poverty figures show rates for those aged 
under 12 have fallen, but have risen for those over 12. The 
position of the 18 to 24 age group has also deteriorated.

EATING DISORDER FIGURES CAUSE CONCERN
-------------------------------------

Disturbing trends across the Tasman regarding eating disorders 
are probably being mirrored in New Zealand. An Australian 
survey shows that almost one in five girls starve themselves 
or vomit to control their weight. The number of girls not 
eating for extended periods has almost doubled, while the 
number throwing up their food has almost tripled. Carol Drew, 
an Auckland counsellor specialising in eating disorders, is 
not surprised about the figures and believes the statistics 
would be similar in New Zealand. She believes there is not 
enough funding for eating disorder experts for New Zealand to 
conduct such a study.

WORKERS MARCH ON EMPLOYERS' HQ
------------------------------

Around 300 people working for a hospital contractor have 
delivered dozens of old shoes to their employer's headquarters 
to highlight their demands for a pay rise. The Spotless 
Services' employees are part of the contingent of hospital 
cleaners, kitchen staff and orderlies who were locked out on 
Monday night. The Service and Food Workers' Union says around 
a thousand emails have been sent to Spotless urging the 
company to get back to negotiations. As the company's workers 
arrived at their office in Great South Road this morning, they 
had to make their way past a mountain of old shoes, which the 
protesters say symbolise the sentiment "give Spotless the 
boot." Spotless staff are fighting for the same pay rates as 
District Health Boards are offering their workers doing the 
same job. The rates range from $14.25 to $16.45. The SFWU says 
members on the picket line have received huge support 
including donations of food and cash from the public, 
firefighters, private businesses and community groups.

FARMERS' PAYOUT COULD BE EVEN HIGHER
------------------------------------

An economist believes Fonterra's payout for the season could 
even higher than originally indicated, but farmers are worried 
about the implications. In May, the dairy giant forecast its 
payout would be a record $5.53 per kilogram of milk solids but 
Westpac economist Doug Steel says with a 15 percent rise in 
international dairy prices that could be more in the region of 
$6.60/kilo. Charlie Pedersen, Federated Farmers' president, 
fears the dairy industry could now become a scapegoat for any 
further interest rate rises. He says farmers do not yet have 
the money in their hands and will not for at least another 18 
months. Mr Pedersen says the payout will go some way to 
redressing the tough times dairy farmers have had to suffer. 
An increased payout would plough $1.5 billion more into the 
economy. 

(Which tough times were those Mr Pedersen? It is a long time 
since the payouts were at less than record levels. The queue 
of people wanting to convert to dairy farming is evidence of 
that. - BH)

SOME HOSPITALS ILL-EQUIPPED FOR COLON CANCER
--------------------------------------------

New figures show some hospitals are not equipped to properly 
deal with the second most common cause of cancer death in New 
Zealand. Research in the latest Medical Journal shows only 
three of seven large centres and 11 of 17 small centres can 
offer a diagnostic colonoscopy to patients within three months 
of referral while the rest struggle to carryout the procedure 
within six months. National guidelines state such examinations 
be done within eight weeks. Gastroenterologist at Middlemore 
Hospital, Susan Parry, says a lack of endoscopists is partly 
to blame. She says a Colorectal Screening Advisory Group has 
advised the Ministry of Health to undertake a feasibility 
study into population screening. A colonoscopy is an 
examination of the large bowel, the colon, through the use of 
a colonoscope, a narrow flexible tube with a wide-angled 
camera at the tip. The procedure can take up to 30 minutes and 
samples of tissue are taken for analysis.

DHB SENDS OUT SOS TO NURSES
---------------------------

A District Health Board is being warned to be very careful 
when recruiting nurses from the community. Wellington and 
Kenepuru Hospitals are officially in a "code red" situation 
with no spare beds available and 20 nursing staff on sick 
leave. Operations have been cancelled and emergency department 
patients are facing long waiting times. Capital and Coast DHB 
says the hospitals are stretched to their limits and only the 
most urgent cases can be attended to. The DHB is asking 
qualified nurses including those who are semi-retired to come 
forward to help out. However, Annette Huntington, a nursing 
expert from Massey University questions whether bringing 
nurses in from the community is the best idea. She says the 
DHB will have to carefully monitor the relief staff, to make 
sure they are appropriately prepared for the areas they are 
working in and are able to cope. Ms Huntington says if that is 
the case, there will be no issues regarding patient safety. Ms 
Huntington it is a very difficult situation and indicative of 
the general nursing shortage. She doubts there are enough 
nurses who are capable of filling in.

INTEREST RATE RISE MORE THAN LIKELY
-----------------------------------

Despite an argument from one business leader that a clear case 
exists for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates next week, 
most economists believe a rise in the official cash rate is 
the more likely scenario. Michael Barnett, CEO of the Auckland 
Chamber of Commerce says all the evidence points towards the 
economy deteriorating and domestic demand slowing. He says 
exporters are under pressure from the high New Zealand dollar 
versus the US$, KiwiSaver is taking an increasing amount of 
money out of the economy, fuel prices are rising, there is the 
likelihood of reduced spending by farmers other than dairy as 
export prices for primary products ease, and the Government 
has reduced immigration quotas. Mr Barnett says with things as 
they stand, New Zealand is chasing its tail and driving itself 
into a death spiral. He says if there was ever a time for the 
Reserve Bank to come out with a positive message, it is now. 
However Bank of New Zealand chief economist Tony Alexander 
strongly disagrees. He says if interest rates were cut on 
Thursday, people would be able to borrow more money which 
would drive up the already heated property market even 
further. Mr Alexander says the best advice he can offer is for 
people to put aside the issue of the high exchange rate and 
focus on running their businesses and boosting productivity.

BUSINESS WOMAN DISPUTES REPORT
------------------------------

A leading businesswoman is not impressed with a report 
released by the National Council of Women. The paper claims 
there is still inequality among the sexes and while women may 
be getting into top jobs, it is still a struggle to balance 
the demands of work and home life. It says New Zealand women 
are experiencing a "marked change for the worse" and that 
there is not enough flexibility in the workplace for mothers. 
It says men who get to the top do not have the same stresses. 
This year's Businesswoman Of The Year Trish McLean says it is 
not just about men or women because more flexibility is needed 
for all workers. She believes there are plenty of 
opportunities for women to climb the corporate ladder and they 
have to decide whether to take them. Ms McLean says if women 
choose to be stay-at-home mums, that is their decision and not 
something that should be frowned upon. The report will be 
delivered to the United Nations. It included submissions from 
more than 90 organisations.

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