Migration could be about to boom, that means higher house prices, hence a special look at housing in my Youtube video this week..Migration could be about to boom, that means higher house prices, hence a special look at housing in my Youtube video this week..

Welcome to the May 23 Weekly Overview.
A full pdf copy of the Weekly Overview is loaded here.

In my Youtube clip this week I take a special look at housing – hence the longer than usual running time. Here. 7.51 minutes

New subscribers can be added to the emailing list here.

Lead Article – Who You Gonna Hire?
Once the Christchurch rebuild gets going and Auckland house building rises off the floor, NZ’s unemployment rate could go back to the 3.5% of 2007. Do you realise you’ll need to learn how to effectively utilise expats and migrants, and have you considered hiring the many older people who these days have no intention of going into that quiet golf-resplendent night?
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Some of the Week’s Economic Data
Oh my oh my. Annualised net migration inflows are running now near 15,000. Previous migration peaks have been 30,000, 42,000 and 23,000. We know what this means for house prices first in Auckland then elsewhere. This is my fifth housing cycle and I’ll take a punt here to say that based on the previous two, Auckland inner city apartments are about to spike. 575 words

Interest Rates
Rates have risen a wee bit further this week on the back of US ten year bond yields rising to a 13 month high above 2%. As speculation about the Fed tapering its asset buying programme grows, rates will tend to rise further. 146 words

NZ Housing Market
Residential construction costs have risen by 3.1% in the past year but house building is still well below average. Imagine what will happen when construction doubles! 220 words.

Offshore
This week I take a very quick look at each of the major parts of the world. 433 words.

Exchange Rates
The NZD has fallen again against the greenback but remains strong on the crosses as the main thing moving out there is a rising USD driven up by speculation of the Fed. soon tapering off its money printing operations. That is a hard thing to pick however so expect high currency volatility.
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Some things are best kept private – introduction to BNZ Private Bank
If you would like to speak with one of our Private Bankers to review your personal situation, feel free to contact us for a discreet obligation free discussion on 0800 477 077 or email us at privatebank@bnz.co.nz. To find out more about BNZ Private Bank, please visit www.bnzprivatebank.co.nz
Tony Alexander produces six regular publications.
The monthly Growing With China issues are here.
The monthly Brain Gain NZ can be located here.
The Weekly Overviews are loaded here.
The monthly BNZ-REINZ Residential Market Surveys are posted here.
The monthly BNZ Confidence Surveys are available here.
The monthly BNZ-Nine Rewards Consumer Trends Survey is here.

Other recent publications include the following.
The Cyprus Haircut
Sources of Western Apprehension About China
Expat Experiences of NZ Hiring
Advice from NZ employers to expats and migrants
19 Reasons Why Auckland House Prices Will Keep Rising. Page 5 of
Massey University Symposium Handout on Housing Affordability
Kiwi Business Locus of Control at a Distance

All the best

Tony Alexander
Chief Economist
www.tonyalexander.co.nz
LinkedIn Profile
TonyLinkedIn
Any views expressed in this publication are the views of Tony Alexander and do not necessarily represent those of BNZ, or its related entities. The information in this publication is provided for general information purposes only, and is a summary based on selective information which may not be complete for your purpose. To the extent that any information or recommendations in this publication constitute financial advice, they do not take into account any person’s particular financial situation or goals. Bank of New Zealand recommends that you seek advice specific to your circumstances from your financial adviser. Neither Bank of New Zealand nor any person involved in this publication accepts any liability for any loss or damage whatsoever may directly or indirectly result from any advice, opinion, information, representation or omission, whether negligent or otherwise, contained in this publication.
ENDS

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Listening to patients experiences to determine how to improve the health system is the aim of two consumer representatives on West Coast District Health Boards Clinical Board.
MEDIA RELEASE
23 May 2013
Listening is first step on path to improving health system

Listening to patients’ experiences to determine how to improve the health system is the aim of two consumer representatives on West Coast District Health Board’s Clinical Board.

Robyn Moore, consumer representative on the board from Greymouth, has a background in nursing and has been a patient herself both on the West Coast and in Canterbury. She says the way to improve patient safety and quality of care is to monitor what people are saying.

“Obviously there will be people that haven’t had a great experience or something has gone wrong and that is for me to listen to and take it along to the Clinical Board to listen and improve the system to make it work better,” she says.

Recently Robyn met a man at his workplace to hear his story. “He had an okay experience but he could see gaps that were not working in the system in terms of follow-up appointments,” she says. Robyn intends writing a report for discussion by the West Coast District Health Board (DHB) Clinical Board and to look at ways to improve the patient experience.

Initiated in July 2011 and officially launched in May 2012, the Clinical Board meets bimonthly. The Board’s aims include: Improving the health of the community; system quality improvement; encouraging and supporting best practice and innovation; contributing to strategic planning and resource allocation decisions; ensuring accurate and appropriate clinical data is captured and available to clinicians for decision making.

Robyn says she is well known in the community through her family’s business, Moore Construction. She also holds a position on the West Coast DHB’s Community and Public Health Advisory Committee) and Disability Services Advisory Committee (CPHAC / DSAC). She was nominated for the clinical board consumer representative role by the chairperson Stella Ward.

Robyn believes it is her outspoken manner in meetings which made her a good candidate for the Clinical Board. “I don’t have a problem with speaking up,” she says. However, she assures people the information they share is confidential and names are not mentioned at Clinical Board meetings. “People can come to me and have a chat in full confidence and privacy.”

Frances Stapleton, from Hokitika, is another consumer representative on the DHB’s clinical board. She is well known in the community as a councillor with Westland District Council. She is also very involved with community groups such as the Hokitika Cancer Support Group, Home Hospice, Community Patrol, Big Brothers Big Sisters, food bank and Safer Community Council, and is a deacon in the Anglican Church.

As a former nurse and midwife, she has always had an interest in the health sector.
She wants to see the Clinical Board taking action on topics like transport between South Westland and Grey Base Hospital, and access to specialists from Canterbury.

“It is an important role the Clinical Board has been assigned to do and it will be interesting in the next year to see what comes out of that,” Frances says.

Other members of the Clinical Board represent primary and community care, aged residential care, hospital and specialist services, Maori, mental health services, Rata Te Awhina, non- Government health and disability organisations, and Buller Integrated Family Health Centre.

Clinical board members serve a three-year term. They can be nominated for reappointment but cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

Clinical board chair Stella Ward, who is also executive director of Allied Health for West Coast and Canterbury DHBs, says there is still one position for a consumer representative from Buller available on the Board and she is keen to hear from anyone interested in getting involved.

The Clinical Board’s terms of reference, last reviewed on April 11, say it will develop an annual work plan reflecting current priorities for improving patient and population health outcomes. The work plan focuses on reducing harm from smoking and promoting the smoking cessation work of the DHB; raising the profile of the South Island alcohol policy put together by Community and Public Health including licensing establishments which sell alcohol, testing underage sales, reducing alcohol harm-related presentations to the emergency department and raising the profile of the ways alcohol harms the community; and fall prevention in aged residential care, community and hospital settings.

Stella says the consumer representatives have a valuable contribution to make to the Clinical Board. They remind board members why the group was formed and for whom.

“They bring an important perspective. Their community standing or presence ensures we have an understanding of different communities that make up the West Coast. I think they are both great. We couldn’t have a Clinical Board without them.”
ENDS

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Labour MPs have banned together to give a significant boost to a local cancer charity by donating 20 percent of its Flight Against Cancer dinner and auction event sales to Wellington community groups.

L-R Mere Takoko, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, Ben Howe

MP’s boost cancer fundraiser

Labour MPs have banded together to give a significant boost to a local cancer charity by donating 20 percent of its Flight Against Cancer dinner and auction event sales to Wellington community groups.

Among the MPs to attend the evening will be Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, Louisa Wall and Kris Faafoi who will host an auction to raise funds for the New Zealand Child Cancer Foundation.

The MPs said they supported the event to honour their fallen colleague, the late Hon. Parekura Horomia who launched the group in Gisborne in 2012.

Horomia was a patron of Chumpchange and the group had been working with him to improve his nutrition just weeks before his passing and had hoped to have him in the Parliament Gym with other Labour MPs next week when the fitness challenge officially begins.

“With the passing of Hon. Parekura Horomia, this year’s fitness challenge will take on new meaning – a cautionary tale so to speak of why we must not delay our efforts to become healthy and vital this Matariki,” said group spokesperson Mere Takoko.

“He had paid his subs the last day he was in Parliament and was intending to be a member of our 2013 fundraising team. He helped us raise $12k last year,” she said.

“We pulled out all the stops this year and aim to keep the fire burning which he helped to light. Team Chumpchange 2013 will be announced at the event and together, we hope to surpass last year’s great effort”.

The group is planning a “reveal” of its team and preview of their social media blog www.tewero.org. Ms Takoko said they will offer free e-fitness and nutrition plans to attendees who include the National Kōhanga Reo Trust, the Māori Women’s Welfare League, the Wellington City Council, and the NZ Council of Christian Social Services.

Hauraki-Waikato MP Hon. Nanaia Mahuta will take over Mr Horomia’s role as the patron of the fitness fundraiser. Mahuta, who recently had her second child, is a keynote speaker and will provide regular blog updates on her progress as she embarks on 12 weeks of healthy nutrition and exercise.

“This is Parekura’s wero to the motu. Let’s get on board this waka hauora – anyone can join and anyone can donate to our campaign. It doesn’t matter what size or age you are – you can do it!”

“I plan to continue where my good friend left off…so follow me whānau on the 12 week Chumpchange Challenge as I transform and paddle this waka ora.”

All profits from the event will be given to the NZ Child Cancer Foundation who will be attending. Ms Takoko said she expected that the majority of its funds raised would be through its new social media blog and support from her “chumpies.”

“With the boost in profile that the Labour MPs will bring to this campaign, our chumpies will be the powerhouse behind this year’s fundraising activities.”

ENDS

Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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Aucklanders have one week to feedback on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse is urging people to make sure they have had their say.Media release
23 May 2013

One week to feedback on draft Unitary Plan

Aucklanders have one week to feedback on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse is urging people to make sure they have had their say.

“We are undertaking the largest planning process in New Zealand’s history, creating a rulebook that will guide Auckland and how it grows over the next 30 years.

“I never expected anything less than robust debate and passionate views on this plan and it is great to be getting so much feedback. This is exactly why it was released as a draft – so everyone would have the chance to be involved before the more formal step of notification. We wanted to consult and listen and change the plan to ensure we develop the best plan possible.

“With a week left to go in this period of informal engagement, I want to remind Aucklanders that the purpose of engaging on a “draft” draft plan is so we can change and adjust things according to feedback. We have always said we will reshape the plan and we will,” said the Deputy Mayor.

So far about 3,000 individual pieces of feedback have been received, 11,000 people have attended the Unitary Plan events, and more than 70,000 people have visited the council’s Unitary Plan website, shapeauckland.co.nz.

“The plan is large and deals with some complex issues. A lot of people have never gone through a district plan before and are not aware of what the current rules say.

“If people have specific questions or need help using the plan, please call Council on 09 3010101 so our team can help. There is misinformation out there so we encourage you to contact us if you have queries on rules, overlays, zones or using the maps.

“I have attended many events since the launch and have heard from thousands of Aucklanders, passionate about where they live and about the future of their communities and their city. I have reassured Aucklanders that we can hear their concerns and will listen.

“We will be going through all of the feedback in June and July to see where changes need to be made.”

To find out about the remaining community events and how to submit feedback by going to shapeauckland.co.nz. Feedback closes 31 May.

How to have your say
• It’s easy to give your feedback and we want to hear all views
• Leave a comment on on one of our blogposts – it can be short, detailed, in support, what you would change, tweak etc
• You can fill out a Unitary Plan feedback form
• Comment on our facebook page, or tweet @aklcouncil using the hashtag #shapeauckland

Feedback based on facts
• Have questions, need help – ask us! Call us on 09 3010101 to speak to a Unitary Plan experts or email questions to unitaryplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• Find out about your local area by viewing the local board fact sheets and zone maps.
• Find out about your own property by using the electronic maps and e-plan text, need help? Read the how to guides or call us on the numbers below
• Read over the fact sheets proposed residential controls, centres: building heights and setbacks
• What does this mean for Auckland? Read the draft unitary plan overview, easy read, translations or watch our videos

Ends

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Vulnerable families and children are increasingly being denied access to much-needed counselling services, the New Zealand Association of Counsellors is warning.Vulnerable families need counselling support

Vulnerable families and children are increasingly being denied access to much-needed counselling services, the New Zealand Association of Counsellors is warning.

Speaking at the NZAC’s annual conference in Napier, president Jonathan Loan said it is unfortunate that government policies are decreasing access to counselling services for those most in need.

He cites as one example the fact that many of society’s most vulnerable families now face reduced access to Family Court counselling because of government decisions to cut the number of counselling hours they can access.

Similarly, schools are under-resourced in terms of the ratio of school guidance counsellors to students. They are seeing increasing numbers of students who are dealing with issues ranging from bullying, drug , alcohol and sexual abuse, self-harm, family violence, depression, suicidal tendencies and sexuality.

“Changes to the Family Court mean families undergoing difficult parental separations have greatly reduced access to counselling, which is often vital in traumatic, conflict situations, and it’s the children who really end up suffering,” Mr Loan said.

“I would urge the government to continue the 30 year tradition of free access to this help for needy families.”

Mr Loan also urged Paula Bennett to honour a previous assurance to explore raising the number of counsellors in schools.

“School guidance counsellors are the fence at the top of the cliff for a lot of students who need support, but too often we end up being the ambulance at the bottom because of resource constraints that prevent us doing the best job possible for these young adults.

“Investing in counselling as an early intervention initiative for families and children who need help can pay significant dividends in terms of reduced social, financial and health impacts down the track.”

The NZAC conference is being held in Napier May 23-26. It addresses the theme of Family and Whanau.
ENDS

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Five Welsh teachers will travel to New Zealand to learn how to encourage the use of the Welsh language in all members of the community, as part of the Linking Minds leadership programme.

PRESS RELEASE
Linking Minds Scholarships – Making Language Accessible to Everyone
** May 2013

Five Welsh teachers will travel to New Zealand to learn how to encourage the use of the Welsh language in all members of the community, as part of the Linking Minds leadership programme.

Following an inspirational trip to Wales in 2012 as part of the British Council Linking Minds Scholarship, New Zealand teachers will welcome the Welsh cluster to examine teaching techniques that focus on – ‘Karawhiua ki te Katoa’ making language accessible to everyone. Through classroom observations, direct practices and discussions, it is intended that our Welsh teachers will adopt these practices and methodologies to encourage the use of the Welsh language in all members of society and beyond the school gates.

“The impending visit heralds the first reciprocal visit from the Welsh side to the NZ one – reciprocity being an important value in Maori culture. The NZ Linking Minds teachers had an inspirational visit to Wales last year which has enriched their teaching practice and confirmed their standing as leaders in the promotion of bilingual education in NZ,” said British Council Country Director NZ, Ingrid Leary.
“Now they are enormously excited to reciprocate and share the NZ experience of promotion of a first language to teachers who can genuinely empathise with their challenges and successes, and continue to support each other from opposite sides of the globe.”
New Zealand and Wales both share a proud history of indigenous language revival and bilingual education. Unlike Wales, New Zealand does not have legislation that ensures the use of Maori in an official context, yet has ensured that social inequalities are not barriers to the Maori language.

The cluster of teachers form an ‘International Professional Learning Community’ – the goal is to create self-sustaining links between practitioners and schools in Wales and other countries, where teaching methods are shared to address priority issues, in this case to encourage the use of the Welsh language in all social groups.

The NZ-UK Link Foundation has been associated with the Linking Minds programme as a funding partner since 2004, and has supported 8 team visits of New Zealand teachers to the United Kingdom since then. Link is delighted that this reciprocal visit has been arranged under the Linking Minds umbrella.

The reciprocal visit is being funded through the International Professional Learning Community — part of the International Education Programme, a Welsh Government funded initiative that is implemented by British Council Wales. This programme covers primary, further education and Higher Education in a formal and non-formal capacity to deliver a wide range of international educational opportunities for the benefit of professionals and young people in Wales.

The teachers from Ysgol John Bright, Ysgol Craig Y Don, Ysgol San Sior, Ysgol Eirias, Ysgol Bryn Elian and Canolfan Iaith Dolgarrog will visit New Zealand from the 24th – 30th May; and will engage in educational tours and observations in several schools, both primary and comprehensive institutions, and visit Kura Kaupapa, the first Maori Medium school in New Zealand.
“These teachers will have an amazing opportunity to look at different teaching practices adopted in New Zealand and apply these in a Welsh context. They’ll find out more about language immersion in New Zealand schools and how this extends beyond the classroom,” said British Council Country Director Wales, Simon Dancey.

“British Council prides itself on supporting links between leaders in education from across the world and this collaboration will help teachers from Wales further the development and implementation of the Welsh language.”
Ends//
Notes to Editors:

About the British Council

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
We work in more than 100 countries, and our 7000 staff – including 2000 teachers – work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes.
We earn over 75% of our annual turnover of £739 million from services which customers pay for, education and development contracts we bid for and from partnerships. A UK Government grant provides the remaining 25%. We match every £1 of core public funding with over £3 earned in pursuit of our charitable purpose.
The NZ-UK Link Foundation

The NZ-UK Link Foundation – originally the Waitangi Foundation – was created in 1990 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty. It has organising committees and charitable trust status in both countries.

It creates and promotes educational and cultural exchanges between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Through these it fosters increased awareness of what each country has to offer the other, the exchange of knowledge, and the encouragement of talent. See: www.nzuklinkfoundation.org

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The following letter which has been sent to Minister Gerry Brownlee was also originally cced to John Campbell – Campbell Live, Ian Simpson – EQC Chief Executive, Michael Wintringham – EQC Board Chair, Lyn Provost – Office of the Auditor General, Dame … CanCERN Media Release – 23 May 2013

The following letter which has been sent to Minister Gerry Brownlee was also originally cced to John Campbell – Campbell Live, Ian Simpson – EQC Chief Executive, Michael Wintringham – EQC Board Chair, Lyn Provost – Office of the Auditor General, Dame Beverley Wakem DNZM CBE – Parliamentary Ombudsmen, David Rutherford – Human Rights Commission, Gabriel Makhlouf – Secretary to the Treasury.

It has since been sent to all local MPs with a request that they follow up and give due consideration. It was also sent to many community groups and many have sent their own letter endorsing the contents of the CanCERN newsletter.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the merits of the suggestion in this letter and the expectations that we have of resolution.

The Letter:

Hon. Gerry Brownlee
Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

22 May 2013

Dear Minister Brownlee

Firstly we would like to thank you for conducting the Campbell Live interview on Monday 20 May regarding the resident’s plight with the Earthquake Commission. Acknowledging their voice is the first step towards resolving issues.

You mentioned in your interview that you had heard the issues but not the solutions. We found this statement disappointing because CanCERN has on numerous occasions tried to engage you in solution focused discussions regarding EQC. We would once again invite that opportunity and have reiterated the areas which have consistently been of most concern and the solutions that have come directly from the residents most impacted by EQC’s delivery of service.

Prioritising the vulnerable – the issue
Many elderly, sick and vulnerable people are still waiting to be identified and prioritised. EQC has recently developed a process to prioritise the vulnerable but it relies largely on community groups discovering and referring those they find in the community. EQC does action these referrals but it leaves too many gaps – the most vulnerable are the hardest to find and we are slowly uncovering 95 year olds and 101 year olds who have waited for over two years for EQC to make contact. While utilising the knowledge of the community can be seen as a positive move, people will be missed and EQCs preoccupation with capacity has overruled the priority to find every possible vulnerable person. EQC’s needs have been put over and above the needs of the vulnerable. This is unacceptable and shows a lack of commitment to actually wanting to identify the most vulnerable.

The solution
EQC management were given advice via the EQC Customer Advocacy Group to promote the programme widely via the media and to use the MSD database which they have access to to proactively and directly contact all people to offer them information about the programme. EQC refused to take this advice saying capacity was an issue and they were cautious of opening it up and being taken advantage of.

Case Management – the issue
Access to personal information and accurate and timely communication has been the plague of an overwhelming number of residents. Ian Simpson, Bruce Emson and other senior managers have publicly stated that they need to do better and yet from a resident’s perspective, little has improved in this area.

Residents with the most complex situations can not get clarity on their position. This is extremely distressing as was witnessed on the Campbell Live programme and the added stress of having to repeat your story every time you manage to make contact with EQC is unacceptable and breaking the spirit of strong Cantabrians.

The solution
Based on EQC’s claims that a large number of claims have now been resolved, case management of those in the most complex repairs is now a valid option and priority should be given to meeting the communication needs of these people. Case management could be managed on a pod style basis organised into areas of complexity – cross lease, Port Hills, TC3 foundation repairs, TC3 others, most vulnerable land damage homes (increased risk of flood, increased risk of liquefaction), rockcote properties (who have been classified as leaky homes). If EQC does not have the systems in place to flag people into these categories, they have once again failed to implement a system to identify the most vulnerable and worst affected and it would highlight the need for questions to be asked regarding how they have estimated all claims will be resolved within certain timeframes.

Discrepancies in assessments – EQC and the private insurer – the issue
Discrepancies in assessment costs between insurers and EQC are not the result of apportionment as you stated in the Campbell Live interview. They are largely the result of inadequate assessments, EQC’s interpretation of the Act, repair methodologies which breach or subvert the Building Act and subversion of the Building Consents process.

Presently the monitoring, auditing and quality control processes of both EQC and Fletcher EQR are internal processes (other than Treasury and Auditor General reviews which focus more on financial accountability processes). Residents have little faith in the validity of these processes. Contractors and professionals have indicated they also have concerns which have been raised to no avail.

The solution
Adequate external monitoring and auditing processes need to be established immediately. Scale is a given. Speed is important. These things can not be at the expense of quality and resident assurance that their home is still a valuable asset. Only independent monitoring and auditing of the assessment and repair processes will give this assurance.

Management of EQC – the issue
Ian Simpson by his own admission has failed to address the longstanding issues which plague the community. The huge number of email responses to the Campbell Live interview which outline negative experiences are a vote of no confidence for the management of EQC.

Time and time again we have been told by managers at EQC that communicating with the people is a priority and that they were looking at ways to improve this. This began with Reid Stiven early in 2011, was reiterated by Bruce Emson on many occasions in 2012 ( as far as we are aware one of his roles in EQC was to develop a better communications process) and repeated again by Ian Simpson when we met him in the later half of 2012 and was further echoed by the board chair Michael Wintringham when we visited him in Wellington in December of last year. From the residents perspective the actions of EQC to fulfill this role are actions that meet the needs of EQC and do not meet the needs of the people. We have yet to have the ‘how’ articulated.

CanCERN met with EQC Board Chair, Michael Wintringham late 2012 and were told to wait and see what positive measures would be put in place to address our stated concerns. As of yet, we can identify no real improvements and believe the EQC Board has also failed to acknowledge and address the massive systemic failings of EQC. Letter to Michael Wintringham – 11.10.12

The solution
Many have suggested how things could be resolved to no avail. Two and a half years is too long for residents to wait for this service to improve. There has been no articulated plan to address the greatest concerns that is acceptable to the residents. Therefore we reassert our formal request that Ian Simpson is not best qualified to be the Chief Executive of EQC and should be replaced immediately.

In the spirit of solution focused outcomes, we would once again offer the opportunity to speak with you directly about these issues with the purpose of resolving the issues in a mutually beneficial way.

Yours sincerely

Leanne Curtis
CanCERN Relationships Manager
on behalf of the CanCERN Board and network

ENDS

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More young New Zealanders in need of glasses to correct their vision have received free spectacles through a Government-funded subsidy. More than 28,000 children aged 15 years or under had their eyes tested and were given glasses if required last …Hon Tony Ryall
Minister of Health

23 May 2013

More children getting help to see

More young New Zealanders in need of glasses to correct their vision have received free spectacles through a Government-funded subsidy.

“More than 28,000 children aged 15 years or under had their eyes tested and were given glasses if required last financial year – over 10,000 more than in 2008,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

“Over three quarters of the children who had their eyes tested required new frames, new lenses or repairs to their current glasses.

“Funding for the Children’s Spectacle Subsidy has nearly tripled under this government – from $2 million in 2007/08 to nearly $6 million last financial year.

“This extra funding has meant the number of children from low income families receiving the subsidy has grown considerably over the last four years.

“The Spectacles Subsidy is up to $287.50 a year and can help with the costs of a vision test and glasses.

“Anyone 15 or under with a vision problem whose parents have a current community services card or a high use health card is eligible for the subsidy.”

To find out more about the Children’s Spectacle Subsidy visit the Ministry of Health website www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/disabilities/vision-loss/subsidy-glasses-and-vision-tests

ENDS

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Waiariki MP, Te Ururoa Flavell, has continued his call for accountability in the wake of the damning IPCA report into Operation Eight. The Authority found there was no lawful basis for the roadblocks at Taneatua and Rutoki; there was no lawful …Te Ururoa Flavell
MP for Waiariki

23rd May 2013

Lack of Genuine Remorse from Police Will Not Restore Tūhoe Relationship

Waiariki MP, Te Ururoa Flavell, has continued his call for accountability in the wake of the damning IPCA report into Operation Eight.

“The Authority found there was no lawful basis for the roadblocks at Taneatua and Ruātoki; there was no lawful power or justification for Police to detain, stop and search the vehicles, take personal details or photograph the drivers and passengers,” reiterated Te Ururoa Flavell.

“This was a massive operation, involving over 300 officers at numerous locations, requiring millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to enable the raids to proceed.”

“Labour knew about this – and still allowed the attacks to proceed. We hold former PM Helen Clark and Police Minister Annette King directly responsible for Operation Eight – as well as the associated introduction and passage of a huge raft of anti-terrorism legislation including the Search and Surveillance Act.”

“The former Chair, Judge Lowell Goddard, and current Chair, Judge Sir David Carruthers, have done a thorough job of highlighting multiple findings in which Police policy, procedures and actions were unlawful, unreasonable, unjustified and undesirable. Quite frankly it’s appalling,” said Te Ururoa. “Yet Police Commissioner Peter Marshall has the gall to say ‘without making any excuses, it’s important to remember the context.’”

“Fine words – if only the Police had followed them,” said Te Ururoa. “The IPCA report concludes that the Police under-estimated the focus on Ruātoki and Tūhoe that occurred and that the Police should have more fully taken into account the historical and cultural context before planning an operation into this area.”

“It also reports that in the years since the raids there has been no meaningful, effective, or sustained engagement with Tūhoe despite the Authority concluding there is a distinct lack of trust and confidence by Tūhoe in the police.”

“It begs the question – why have Iwi Liaison Officers if operation commanders can’t trust them to gain insight into the whānau, hapū and iwi concerned? No wonder the police were surprised by the reaction they got from the community or the media.

“Mr Marshall’s muffled apology that ‘it was most unfortunate for the community in the Ruātoki Valley’ and ‘Police failed to meet expected standards’ goes nowhere near the type of accountability and genuine remorse that the people of my constituency are looking for.”

“The kuia and koroua of Tūhoe have impressed on me that the harm done to their people in October 2007 and the subsequent protracted events following, have done enormous damage not just to this generation, but for generations to come.”

“The Māori Party is asking all the key stakeholders in this tragic case – including current Police Minister Tolley – to take a serious and considered approach to how amends can be made – and to do that soon.”

ENDS

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The community engagement on design options for ChristChurch Cathedral has produced more than 3700 submissions and more than 19,000 visits to the website. The high number of submissions during the month long engagement, that ended on May 3rd, is being …Cathedral Conversation Involves Thousands

May 23 2013

The community engagement on design options for ChristChurch Cathedral has produced more than 3700 submissions and more than 19,000 visits to the website.

The high number of submissions during the month long engagement, that ended on May 3rd, is being welcomed by the Church Property Trustees as part of its decision making process in its commitment to build a Cathedral in the Square.

The Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Rev’d Victoria Matthews says the time people took to engage with the process through the website, at forums, in churches and meetings shows the high level of interest and it is greatly appreciated.

‘Some people wrote detailed comments on each of the options as well as giving their preferred option. We had phone calls, impromptu voting papers from people with no computer access as well as designs and written letters. It has been a rich conversation with many voices that assist us in the decision making process,’ says Bishop Victoria.

The website gave access to 25 documents with information on the options that are under consideration. The reports were updated and expanded from requests made during the public engagement process.

Web Feedback (period April 3 to May 3 2013)
• A total of 3,741 submissions
• 19,272 website visits viewing 74,573 pages
• 14,849 unique visitors to the website
• 2,917 submissions from Canterbury
• 253 submissions from Auckland, 85 from the United States, 62 from the United Kingdom
• 3,833 referrals from Facebook
• Three forums in Christchurch and one in Auckland attracted approximately 500 participants

The three design options received the following total voting;

Restore: 1088 (29.1%)
Traditional: 504 (13.5%)
Contemporary: 1915 (51.2%)
No preference: 234 (6.2%)
Total: 3741

The voting for Christchurch City in terms of a preferred option was;

Restore: 749 (30.5%)
Traditional: 315 (13%)
Contemporary: 1240 (50.5%)
No preference: 146 (6%)
Total: 2450

The Church Property Trustees are responsible for the property holdings of the Diocese of Christchurch, including ChristChurch Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese.

The Trustees have maintained from the beginning of the engagement process that the voting is only one component in a very wide decision making process. Critical issues in any decision making include the mission and ministry of the Diocese. The mission priorities are: Christ centered mission, faithful stewardship and young leadership. Other critical issues are human safety, the heritage nature of the building, the fiscal risk of all the options, sound financial stewardship, and the complex matters of engineering.

A meeting of Trustees last week continued the consultation with consultants in engineering, project costing (QS) and project management, heritage, fundraising and architecture. There is no specific date set for a final decision as the Trustees are still evaluating all the information.

Engagement with groups included the Christchurch City, Historic Places Trust, Great Christchurch Buildings Trust and the IPSE, Restore Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square Owners Group, Christchurch City Council Councillors and staff, the Diocesan Synod, Canon Almoners, Anglican Youth and other church leaders.

“The response and level of feedback has provided the Trustees with even more information on which to base their decision. During the period of public engagement, issues were raised and responded to in conversations as well as through work with different groups. This can only enhance the decision making process,” says Bishop Victoria.

The Church Property Trustees are due to meet in early June as they move towards a decision.

The website, www.cathedralconversations.org.nz has the feedback received from the public.

ENDS

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