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27 June 2006
FOMA
Conference
The FoMA AGM and Conference will be held in Rotorua this year on the 3-5 November, at the Grand Tiara Hotel. We will advise as soon as more information becomes available.
Website
FoMA is nearly ready to launch advertising spaces on its webpage. With traffic to the webpage averaging 25,000 hits per week this will be aprime location to get your product out there to others. Email info@foma.co.nz for more information
POLICY BUILDING
Outdoor Walking Access
The deadline for submissions on the Outdoor Walking proposal is looming. You have until the 30th to get your submissions in. Details are available here.
FoMA will place a submission with the group early next week, emphasizing that as Maori land owners we are partners with the Crown and not general citizens, and the Crown has an obligation to protect the interests of Maori.
Maori Purposes Bill
We have been considering the implications of the Maori Purposes Bill. This bill has brought to the surface many conflicting views. The National Party has criticised the government, saying that it is trying to sneak it into parliament. Sir Douglas Graham commends the Treaty deadline
Water Allocation
FoMA is currently attempting to have representation in this leadership group to ensure that FoMA member and Maori are spoken for. The government has not got very far with the action plans and the group has not been named at this date, the government has reiterated that water will remain a public resource and that allocation will be controlled by the crown. At present control will be through tradable water rights. The discussion document can be found here
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has held a hui and these notes can be found here and here, they are looking into another hui in July to which FoMA representatives plan to attend.
Waka Umanga
The Law Commission has tabled a report in parliament Waka Umanga. This report proposes that it will speed up the process of Waitangi Tribunal settlements through an organisational structure Waka Umanaga. There would be a set of standards that would need to be satisfied by Maori if they wished to be a Waka Umanga and it would be an entity under the Companies Act. It is very flexible and designed to be individually tailored. Read article
PARLIAMENT
Micro-chipping defeated
Farmers lobbing against the Micro-chipping of working dogs have won, with the Government being defeated. Local governments are now at a loss as to the definition of a working dog, with many of them putting the enforcement at a low priority. The government will be working with them to resolve these issues. Articles here and here and here
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Rates Set to Increase
Rates are set to increase by 7-8% over the next three years according to Federated Farmers analysis of 83 city, district and regional councils. The Federated Farmers Vice President Don Nicolson has said there is a serious need for change to local government funding. Read Media Release and view table of rate increases 05/06 to 08/09
BUSINESS
NZ Trade Deficit Warning
Standards and Poor’s, a world provider for credit ratings and risk evaluation has warned NZ about its growing Trade Deficit that as it is one of the highest in the developed world. Read article and here
Business Directory
A new website designed to foster Maori business network has been launched www.maoribusinessdirectory.co.nz Read Article
TOURISM
TRENZ
The minister of Tourism Damien O’Conner gave a speech at the Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand 2006 which highlighted the point that Tourism is immensely valuable to the New Zealand economy. In 2005, international visitors brought us $7.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings. We welcome over 2.3 million visitors a year to New Zealand. And one in 10 New Zealanders are employed directly or indirectly by the tourism industry. Read Speech
Backpackers Hit Hard
With many tourists opting for higher end accommodation the slow down in tourists has hit backpackers hard, with many reducing the size of accommodation and others closing down altogether. There are businesses however that have maximised on this change, by omitting the world backpacker from advertisements and promotional vehicles they have managed to keep ahead of others in this sector. Read article
Maori Culture
A Rotorua based company is bringing in tourist with Maori themed weddings Read Article
AGRICULTURE
Aerial Spreadmark Code of Practice
Jim Anderton launched the Aerial Spreadmark Code of Practice, the Fert-Smart DVD and a Fertiliser Quality Council Website to assist in New Zealand being climate friendly as well as environmentally and socially responsible. Read speech
Free Vet Education Needed
The Shortage of Vets in New Zealand is having a considerable impact on the Primary sector. This is prompting the government to look into relieving the financial burden of students studying in this high priority area. Read release
Primary News
Primary News is a news letter to inform the rural community of what’s going on within the Jim Andertons’ constituency. Read Release
EDUCATION
Bicultural Degree to Attract Maori
Manukau Institute of Technology has proposed a bicultural social work degree to attract more Maori into social work as there is a real shortage of workers in New Zealand. Read Article
HUI
Maori Legal forum
The Forum will be held at the Wellington Town Hall, Wellington 31st July & 1st August.
The Maori Legal Forum is now in its 5th year, and has firmly established its position as the definitive information and discussion forum on Maori issues. More information is available here
The Pacific Cooperation Foundation
(PCF) is holding a conference on 'The Future of the Pacific Labour Market' to be held 29-30 June at Te Papa, Wellington.
PCF hopes that the conference will provide win-win solution for New Zealand industry and for Pacific Island people looking for work. The conference will seek to identify ways of managing temporary labour schemes so that they do not result in overstayers or other problems that have marred such schemes in the past.
There isn't much time left until the conference so be in quick and get involved in such an important issue as the Future of the Pacific Labour Market as it affects many of New Zealand businesses.
More information is available from The Pacific Cooperation Foundation website on www.pcf.org.nz and also from our website here
If you have any questions or comments in regards to this Panui, please contact Maia @ maia@foma.co.nz
