750,000 odd kiwi's call another country home. When you consider our small population base that figure might surprise many and raise a few eyebrows! Some of you, particularly expats, will know of "Kea", an organisation that brings together New Zealander's overseas who work in similar industries.
Kea will be hosting the "World Class New Zealand Awards" in Auckland next year. I had a nomination form sent to my office this week and it has made me stop and think of people that I know who are world class. It's not too hard because there are so many and it's great to see an organisation like this running such an event. Far too often we suffer from tall poppy syndrome - and to celebrate our best and brightest is not something we do often enough.
I'm having a 'Meet the Minister at Molly's' evening tomorrow night. If you live in Wellington or are visiting please join me for a drink and chat - I'm happy to provide feedback and answer questions about what ACT has been up to in and out of the house, or on any of my portfolio areas of Consumer Affairs, Education and Defence.
Details are as follows:
Venue: The Blarney Stone, Molly Malones, Cnr Taranaki St and Courtenay Place
Date: Thursday October 1st 2009
Time: from 7pm onwards
Cash bar
Hope you can make it and feel free to bring some friends.
The last two of the planned Public Consultation meetings for Defence Review 2009 were held this week. Yesterday I hosted a daytime meeting in New Plymouth and the last tonight in Upper Hutt. There have been 14 meetings in all and they have attracted enthusiastic, if relatively small (20-30 on average)audiences. The verbal submissions have fallen in to three main catagories - submissions concentrating on Force Structure, discussions around technology and Defence Industry related matters and a few from peace activists.
John Key's visit to the US included a spot on the Letterman Show. I missed it when it played on Prime on Friday night but have since watched his appearance on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b3VzcK2xqM
I thought it was a tough ask and all things considered he did pretty well. The clip is worth a look.
Several of the jokes were tailored of course to the American audience which numbers 3-4 million. The 10th point (presented first) was that "Auckland Airport now has a Cinnabon". I'm a great admirer of the US but I'm afraid that one was lost on me - I'd never heard of Cinnabon. Luckily the internet can help out with information on just about anything now so here is chapter and verse on this bakery chain : http://www.cinnabon.com/experience/story.html
The weird and the wonderful have come out to play in Wellington this week.
While Auckland is playing host to the more conventional fashions of Air New Zealand Fashion Week, Wellington has had its own cast of characters to entertain as the Montana World of Wearable Arts has been taking over our city.
A highlight of the 2009 show is a retrospective display of 20 supreme award-winning garments that has been dotted throughout Wellington and WOW has provided guided tours to these locations - showing off, not only the amazing designs but, the sights of Wellington City.
The World of Wearable Arts show started in Nelson as a promotion for a rural art gallery and has grown into a treasured feature of the Wellington arts calendar. Subverting the conventional perceptions of both fashion and art, the show has been described as "Mardi Gras meets Haute Couture at a Peter Gabriel concert directed by Salvador Dali."
Sitting in my 3rd Form Economics class in 1977, learning about supply & demand and inflation, I could never have predicted that I'd be hosting a Financial Summit 30 years later.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs hosted a Summit in 2007 and its success, alongside the current economic climate, prompted another this year.
The Summit was attended by a mix of participants - representatives of the banking and finance sectors, and those from the community and voluntary agencies that work at a grass roots level to provide their communities with advice and support.
These are all sectors that rarely get a chance to interact and, in order to facilitate free and frank discussion on matter relating to credit, the Summit is subject to the Chatham House Rule.
It was with great sadness today that I learned of the passing of one of the most-beloved and iconic entertainers New Zealand has known – Sir Howard Morrison OBE.
Today, in the House, Parliament marked Sir Howard's passing. Below is the text of my speech.
Mr Speaker, I stand today on behalf of the ACT Party to join with all Members of this Parliament to pay tribute to one of the greatest and most-loved entertainers this country has seen.
From his early days as a member of the Aotearoa Maori Concert Party, to the enormously popular Howard Morrison Quartet, and throughout his illustrious solo career, Sir Howard Morrison took New Zealand and Maori culture to the world.
Sir Howard was no ordinary entertainer. As well as using music to cross national and cultural boundaries, he devoted so much of his life to his people and made enormous contributions to Maori youth programmes around the country.
Prnce Harry once did it and was taken to task for his lack of judgement. Now a group of Lincoln University students who attended a party at the weekend have followed suit - dressed as either as Nazis or concentration camp inmates.
According to news today, the students’ actions have caused an uproar – some other students were outraged by the costumes, the New Zealand Jewish Council has expressed its disappointment, and the university is investigating claims about the students' actions. Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field has further said that Lincoln would take action if there was a case to answer.
There are two issues at the heart of this matter: freedom and taste. As citizens living in a free society, New Zealanders have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of association – and the freedom to wear what they like. Had they broken the law, then action by the university and police would be warranted, but they didn't.
I did a bit of a media round-up of the week this morning. The biggest story was the Wanganui/Whanganui debate. The NZ Geographic Board has voted unanimously to have the 'h' reinstalled in Wanganui. It's not clear to me how the 'h' was disenfranchised in the first place. A spelling mistake perhaps? The river and electorate are both spelt Whanganui and I'm told that Whanganui means large harbour, but Wanganui means nothing.
The arguments have raged back and forth for a while - Maori have long maintained that the 'h' is missing, while 77% of residents in a referendum voted to keep Wanganui. Michael Laws will probably have another rant about the issue in the Sunday Star Times tomorrow morning and no dobut blame political correctness, Maori activists and all politicians, while David Farrar (on Kiwiblog) said he didn't feel strongly either way but the town should be avoided at all costs! Personally I think the main street of Wanganui/Whanganui is a pleasant surprise.
The Combined Conference of the Australian Special Education Principals’ Association (ASEPA) and the New Zealand Association of Special Schools Principals (NZASSP)
This morning I had the pleasure of addressing a group of principals at the ‘Combined Conference of the Australian Special Education Principals’ Association (ASEPA) and the New Zealand Association of Special Schools Principals (NZASSP)’. These conferences strengthen the ties between New Zealand and Australia within the special education sector. The conference gave me the opportunity to speak about the importance of innovation and collaboration within special education.
I'm passionate about learning which is why I was delighted today to have been able to improve New Zealand Herald Political Editor Audrey Young's knowledge of rugby during my Media Conference to open applications for the Aspire Scholarships for secondary school students. I was joined by Hurricanes player Victor Vito who talked of his own experiences as a scholarship student at Scots College in Wellington.
Victor very kindly answered questions about how this educational opportunity gave him a head start. Audrey attended the press conference and worte a blog piece on the Herald website where, she admitted that she had never heard of Victor. A visiting group of schoolboys from Wellington College - my son amongst them - where able to fill Audrey in on all the rugby details she was unaware of and now, she not only knows what team Victor plays for but also what position he plays – flanker or No8 – and that he has also represented New Zealand in Sevens.
Today, as Associate Minister of Education, I hosted a press conference at Parliament to officially open applications for the Government's new Aspire scholarships - designed to enable students from low-income families to attend a private secondary school.
I was joined by Victor Vito - who most will know from Wellington's Hurricanes rugby team, and from his time representing New Zealand in Sevens. Victor himself is a former scholarship student, having received a TIE scholarship to attend Scots College here in Wellington.
Today, as Associate Minister of Education, I hosted a press conference at Parliament to officially open applications for the Government's new Aspire scholarships - designed to enable students from low-income families to attend a private secondary school.
I was joined by Victor Vito - who most will know from Wellington's Hurricanes rugby team, and from his time representing New Zealand in Sevens. Victor himself is a former scholarship student, having received a TIE scholarship to attend Scots College here in Wellington.
Education is the greatest gift that we can give our children and parents need to be able to choose the education model that best suits their children's needs. For many, however, a private schooling is out of reach. The Aspire Scholarships will place that choice in their hands.
Parliament sometimes goes into Urgency to make progress on business additional to what would be possible under the normal rules for sitting hours and progress of business. Normally the House sits from 2pm-6:30pm and 7:30pm-10pm on Tuesday and wednesday, and 2pm-6pm on Thursday. Under Urgency this extends, with the House sitting from 9am-midnight on wednesday, and up to 10pm on Thursday. The House will go into Urgency this week to debate the following Bills:
Government Bills:
Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support
Student Loan Scheme (Repayment Bonus) Amendment Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support
Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill - Committee Stage
ACT to Support
Immigration Bill - Committee Stage
ACT to Support
Electricity (Continuance of Supply) Amendment Bill - Second Reading
ACT to Support
The 69th anniversary of the Battle of Britain was commemorated at the National War Memorial in Wellington today with a service and a wreath-laying ceremony. The event included a flypast by a Spitfire aircraft as the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) marked the anniversary and paid tribute to Battle of Britain veterans.
The Spitfire was the same aircraft that has been restored by Brendon Deere and which I wrote a blog piece about earlier this year. It was looking in great shape today as it flew over the War Memorial and I'm told it is the only flying aircraft of it's type in New Zealand.
Many people think the role of the Minister of Consumer Affairs is to ban unsafe products and those that are unfit for sale. Others think it is to provide information about products and services. That is, on occasion a small part of the job. Much more important is to provide the right environment so that buyers and sellers can transact easily and fairly.
There are two good, principle based consumer laws : the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act. One of these is usually quoted when a consumer feels that a business has misrepresented a product or service.
The Fair Trading Act applies to businesses and sellers and requires they provide consumers with accurate information about products or services to allow them to make informed decisions. Consumers benefit when they're able to choose widely based on clear information, while businesses benefit from by the positive reputation that is gained from being upfront and honest about the product or service that they offer.
In the news today was an item about a design fault in a radiation therapy room at Wellington's new hospital that would have exposed patients and staff in neighbouring rooms to a year's worth of radiation in one hit. This raises the issue of radiation for theraputic purposes, nuclear energy, nuclear propulsion and nuclear weapons - many kiwis talk about them all in the same context, incorrectly of course.
Nuclear energy is still a hotbed of debate and emotion in New Zealand. Claiming to be nuclear free is a claim many New Zealanders love to make. Often quoted is former Prime Minister David Lange 'standng up to' the US in 1987 and the passing the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act. Often forgotten however, is the fact that Lange originally intended only to ban nuclear weapons and was persuaded by Labour caucus members to widen the ban. At the time the difference was immaterial as most nuclear propelled warships were also nuclear armed.
Great news from the end of last week! My fellow Associate Education Minister (Tertiary), Wayne Mapp,announced that the National Party will be supporting the first reading of Sir Roger Douglas's VSM bill to dismantle compulsory student unionism. This is the bill that I had been sponsoring for the past two years and will allow students at teritairy institutions to have freedom of association.
Currently the law allows unions with compusory membership to collect levies automatically as part of enrolment fees for all students. Students are the only group in society forced to join a union. ACT believes this is blatantly unfair and should be changed.
Over the last few days I have seen several articles in the media about representatives of a Wealth Management Company going door to door selling Kiwisaver. There have been allegations of high pressure sales tactics bordering on badgering, but regardless of techniques used, under securities law it is illegal to sell any kind of investment products by going door to door at peoples houses.
Salespeople are however allowed to go to businesses and as such the most recent article about a seller visiting a mental health facility and approaching residents was not an example of illegal activity. While not against the law, the ethics of the transaction are questionable and parents of patients who have been complaining about these tactics are understandably upset.
According to the 'New Zealand Herald' today a new measure is being implemented by the Bank of New Zealand to foil bankrobbers. A new spray system that will douse fleeing criminals with SelectaDNA spray will make them identifiable for up to two weeks.
The term 'bank robbery' is more likely to conjure images of Hollywood – such as Johnny Depp's portrayal of the infamous John Dillinger in the recent blockbuster 'Public Enemies' – but the fact is that bank robbery is on the rise in New Zealand. Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that the number of recorded bank robberies has increased from 17 in 2003, to 66 in 2008 – a 288 percent increase in just five years.
Resolution rates for bank robberies are average at best – of the 218 bank robberies committed from 2003-08, only 59 percent were recorded as being resolved. It's not surprising that banks are looking for different ways to foil these criminals.
One of the best parts of my job is delivering good news. Yesterday I had the pleasure of phoning the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Principal of BLENNZ (Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand to tell them that the Government had approved $14.9 million to rebuild the Homai Campus.
Located in Auckland, the Homai Campus is attended by blind or vision-impaired children and young people from schools all over the country and plays an enormous role in educating blind children - at a local, regional and national level.
For many years the facilities have been substandard and obsolete. The Government has approved funding for the rebuild which is due to be completed in 2011 - and which will provide students with a higher standard of accommodation and a modernised national resource centre, assessment centre, teaching and learning centre, and early childhood services.
Tomorrow night I'll be at the Wellington Convention Centre to host the capital's first public meeting for the Defence Review 2009 public consultation phase.
The Government is keen to obtain New Zealanders’ views on Defence and to obtain wide public support for the coming Defence White Paper. In June Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and I
launched a public consultation document and invited New Zealanders to have their on Defence.
Around 200 New Zealanders did just that by sending written submissions and, to provide a further opportunity for the public to engage with the Review, we are also holding 14 public meetings in 12 locations around the country.
The first two meetings were chaired by Minister Mapp in Auckland Central and the North Shore, and tomorrow night Wellingtonians will have their chance to come along and have their say.
The House will go into Urgency this week to debate the Retail Deposits Bill, and the remaining stages of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill.
Parliament sometimes goes into Urgency to make progress on business additional to what would be possible under the normal rules for sitting hours and progress of business. Normally the House sits from 2pm-6:30pm and 7:30pm-10pm on Tuesday and wednesday, and 2pm-6pm on Thursday. Under Urgency this extends, with the House sitting from 9am-midnight on wednesday, and up to 10pm on Thursday.
Government Bills:
Crown Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme Bill - All Stages
ACT to Support
Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill - Second Reading, Third Reading, Committee Stages
ACT to Support
In Samoa today the law changed - switching from driving on the right side of the road to driving on the left.
At 5.50am this morning all vehicles were to stop and remain idle for 10 minutes.
At 6am, everyone was to drive to the other side of the road, and wait for a further 10 minutes. At 6.10am, everyone was to drive off.
Alcohol sales have been banned for a week to keep people focussed.
There has been plenty of opposition to the move. Bus doors now open the wrong way and some bus drivers are refusing to drive claiming they are not paid enough to risk the switch. Carnage on the roads has been widely predicted with reports of some people fleeing Apia. Four cabinet Ministers have urgent business in China this week.
The House is currently in Urgency as Parliament works to pass the remaining stages of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill. This Bill makes a number of changes to the existing Resource Management Act (RMA) and I have received a huge number of emails from people with concerns about a certain aspect of the proposed legislation - that of tree-felling.
In a nutshell, the RMA currently gives local Councils the authority to bestow 'protected' status on certain types of tree. In some areas if you happen to have a 'protected' tree on your property, you cannot take it upon yourself to cut it down – depite the fact that you own the property and, for all intents and purposes, the tree. Clause 52 of the proposed Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill will change that.
It's always good to get home after a trip away. Not much has changed while I was away and a quick scan of todays DomPost shows that MPs expenses and an MMP referendum are still live issues.
Also in the paper is an update of Dan and Adam's exploits which I blogged about a couple of weeks ago. They took the opportunity of a fine Sunday to drive their Toyota van - which they have turned into an amphibious craft - across Cook Strait. It took them 10 hours to get from Waikawa marina in the Marlborough Sounds to Mana marina, a little longer than the Inter-Islander but much more interesting. Both 23, the guys have been training at Woodbourne Air Force Base in Blenhiem since January. They were inspired to modify the van by the "boring Blenheim nightlife".
When visiting the Solomon Islands I was immersed in modern history. The capital, Honiara, is on the large island of Guadacanal. I had always associated the name with a turning point in the battle for the Pacific but was unaware of the size of the island. We had time for a bit of sight-seeing on my last morning in Solomon Islands. The American Memorial is impressive and gives a good oversight of the history of WWII. The Japanese Memorial on Bloody Ridge is much smaller and covered in grafetti. The plaques are long removed by locals who have torn them off and sold them for scrap metal.
Like most Pacific Island people the Solomon Islanders are friendly and seem to like the presence of the kiwis in green. The police are regarded with a little more scepticism. We got friendly waves as we drove around Honiara in Army and civilian vehicles with the Kiwi on the side and when we were out and about on foot. The locals like having the “fat chicken” (as they call the New Zealanders wearing the kiwi badge on uniforms) around.
Most Solomon Island families live a subsistence lifestyle. They grow some of their food and sell some of it. The roads are lined with stalls which pop up all over the place, mostly selling fresh food. Although at a glance most locals look reasonably healthy they suffer from tropical diseases, especially malaria, as well as easily treated conditions like fungal infections. The local hospital is primitive, overcrowded and unhygienic.
The largest monument I visited in Honiara was that of Solomon Islands WWII hero Sir Jacob Charles Vouza GM, MBE.
Born in Tasinboko on Guadalcanal, Vouza was a Sergeant Major in the Solomon Islands Protectorate Armed Constabulary until 1941. Following the Japanese invasion, he returned to active duty with the British Forces. It was during this time that he rescued a US naval pilot shot down by the Japanese and guided him safely back to Allied lines - where he met, and volunteered to scout for, the US Marine Corps (USMC).
On August 20 1942, Vouza was captured by the Japanese. In a bid to obtain information on the Allies, the Japanese tortured Vouza - bayoneting him in the stomach, shoulders, arms, throat and face.
It’s hard to miss the Solomon Islands Parliament Building in Honiara in much the same way as there is no mistaking our Beehive. It is a very distinctive building – circular with a conical hat on top, and is perched up on the hill overlooking the CBD. The building was paid for by the US and built by the Japanese.
We were shown around the debating chamber by tour guide Ellen, formerly a teacher who is now responsible for parliamentary communications. The chamber sits in the middle of the building. It is also circular and MP seating is arranged around the room rather than the opposition sitting directly opposite the government – in a somewhat confrontational way - as we are used to.
The parliament is currently in recess and Ellen reported in a very diplomatic way that it is good to have some breathing space with most of the 50 MPs out in their constituencies. I assured her that my staff really like it when I’m out of town too!
On my last evening in Honiara I co-hosted a reception with the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Deborah Panckhurst, at her residence.
Those present included the Australian and Papua New Guinean High Commissioners, the Honoray Consul to the Solomon Islands in New Zealand, Doreen Kuper, New Zealand High Commission staff, RAMSI personnel, and a number of Kiwis living and working in Honiara.
The evening provided a great opportunity for me to meet with many people who – given the busy schedule, and briefness, of my visit – I otherwise would not have had a chance to talk to before heading home to New Zealand.
This morning I embarked on courtesy calls to two Ministers in the Government of the Solomon Islands - Minister of Police, National Security and Prison Services Hon James Tora; and Minister of Foreign Affairs & External Trade Hon William Haomae.
The meetings were both very positive and I came away with a valuable insight into the way in which these two Ministers view the New Zealand Defence Force, the participating Police Force (PPF) and the wider RAMSI initiative.
I also came away with a beautiful gift from Minister Tora - an intricate handmade shell money necklace - which I have been informed is reserved for chiefs and those of high standing within their community. I was very honoured to have received this from Mr Tora in recognition of my visit.
Last night as part of my visit to the troops here in the Solomon Islands, I took part in a Night Patrol of capital city Honiara with NZDF and police personnel.
Leaving from homebase of GBR - Guadalcanal Beach Resort - we travelled in a four-vehicle convoy to monitor a number of areas in the city. In places we stopped and patrolled on foot, talking to locals and visiting some of the Solomon Islands Police Stations.
Honiara, it appears, is a city that never sleeps - and one that is much different by night than it is by day. While less active than it was during the day, there were still plenty of people wandering around at night.
Yesterday I arrived in the Solomon Islands and was met be 32 degrees and 72 percent humidity...offset a little by the slight breeze from the ocean.
Also there to meet us at the airport was High Commissioner Deborah Pankhurst, and several of our soldiers based here. We were delivered to the hotel - along with several bottles of water, and instructions to drink plenty or suffer the consequences of dehydration.
I have to say: it's not easy drinking that much water, and the soldiers told me it takes around four-six weeks to acclimatise - so not much hope for me in three days!
After checking in to the hotel, I had an extremely useful local brief at the High Commission before being whisked away to where our troops are based at GBR (Guadalcanal Beach Resort – not quite as grand as it sounds) for a powhiri.
Today we landed in Honiara - temperature 32 degrees; humidity 72 percent. I'm about to get underway with my visit here, in this country of contrasts and an interesting history.
'Discovered' by Spanish explorer Mendana in 1568 and made a British protectorate in 1899, the Solomon Islands was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of WWII - on land, sea and in the air - from 1942-45. During that time, in 1944, the capital was moved from Tulagi - in the Florida Islands - to Honiara, adjacent to the strategic Henderson Airfield on Guadalcanal.
The Solomon Islands gained full independence in 1978, at which point it joined the Commonwealth.
The political situation in the Solomons is quite different from that of New Zealand - a lack of Party registration requirements means members move easily between Parties. This, combined with other political structures and practices, makes for an extremely flexible political environment.
While visiting other countries it is always enlightening to note what's happening in local politics - today I can report that Australian newspapers aren't filled with policy announcements and the like, but politicians have hit the headlines for a variety of other reasons.
The Victorian Water Minister was rescued from the freezing wilderness after becoming lost and surviving two days in rugged country, while the NSW Health Minister resigned following a personal scandal.
Name-calling is alive and well in the Queensland State Parliament with the (male) Opposition leader calling the (female) Climate Change Minister "illegally blonde" - apparently after being taunted with the nickname 'Zoolander' because his website features 194 photos of himself, but no policy.
While over-nighting in Brisbane last night, we went to one of Brisbane's oldest establishments - and one of Queensland's most famous watering holes for dinner: the Breakfast Creek Hotel.
At the hotel, customers are able to select a steak from a counter - reminiscent of a butcher's shop. The selected cut is then cooked to the customer's specifications. Unfortunately there was no kangaroo, crocodile or emu on the menu for intrepid travellers - but the meals are excellent.
The hotel itself has an interesting history. The story goes that it was built in 1889 and was a favourite breakfast spot for settlers travelling by boat along the river - hence the hotel's name.
The Breakfast Creek Hotel's original owner William Galloway - a former Lord Mayor of Brisbane - fell, drunk, from a second floor window to his death in 1895. According to staff, his ghost still frequents the original parts of the hotel.
It's Parliamentary recess week and I'm en route to Honiara to visit our troops in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon's aren't that easy to get to - our party (Commander Joint Forces Air Vice-Marshall Peter Stockwell, Lt Commander Andrew Lincoln, my Communications Manager Chas Te Runa and myself) had an overnight stop in Brisbane and, in the next hour or so will continue on to Honiara this morning.
Going through immigration at Brisbane airport I was "selected" alongside an 80 year old wheelchair bound woman to be tested for explosives. Luckily we both passed the test.
New Zealand has beena major contributor to RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands) since its inception in 2003. At present New Zealand currently has on deployment in the Solomons: 33 New Zealand Police persnnel and 43 NZDF personnel. A number of civilian personnel also serve with the mission. I look forward to meeting some of these personnel when I get to the Solomon Islands.
