New Zealand in 2007

New Zealand in 2007

Area: 270,692 sq km (104,515 sq mi)
Population (2007 est.): 4,184,000
Capital: Wellington
Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Anand Satyanand
Head of government: Prime Minister Helen Clark

Policies by the Labour-led government to make New Zealand the world’s first “truly sustainable” country underpinned strategies announced in 2007 by Prime Minister Helen Clark. In her formal statement to the House of Representatives on February 13, Clark declared plans for a carbon-neutral public service from 2012, a single government procurement policy for sustainably produced goods and services, a low-emission state vehicle fleet, improved waste management, and a CarbonZero program that would enable businesses to label themselves as carbon neutral. Government officials also made progress during the year on a free-trade agreement with China, began talks for a similar agreement with South Korea, discussed an Asia-Pacific free-trade area, and pursued closer economic relations and free trade with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The leader of the opposition, John Key, announced that if his National Party was elected in 2008, he would abolish separate Maori representation in the House of Representatives (currently 7 of the 121 seats) from 2014. Prime Minister Clark abandoned the idea of introducing state funding of political parties, but she promoted legislation that would impose constraints on election campaign spending.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen’s May 17 budget projected an operating surplus of $NZ 6,327,000,000 ($NZ 1 = about U.S.$0.74) for 2007–08, reduced company tax from 33% to 30% in 2008, and introduced a KiwiSaver savings scheme (supported by compulsory contributions from employers) to provide retirement funds for modest-income earners. The biggest items in the budget’s $NZ 67,853,000,000 in financial allocations were $NZ 20,142,000,000 for social security and welfare, $NZ 10,658,000,000 for health services, $NZ 10,204,000,000 for education, and $NZ 4,994,000,000 for economic and industrial services.

A guaranteed minimum wage for disabled workers was enacted on March 21, along with sick pay and leave entitlements. Free preschool education of up to 20 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds was introduced on July 1, in addition to subsidized medical consultations and prescription medicines for those aged 25–44. A contentious law that allowed parents and caregivers to use “reasonable force” to correct a child’s misbehaviour was repealed. A radical overhaul of conduct and disciplinary processes involving the police was announced after an independent inquiry found serious cases of misconduct in the past by officers, including sexual assault.

Permits authorizing oil and gas exploration in the Great South Basin of the Southern Ocean over the next five years were granted in July to two international consortia: one comprising U.S.-based ExxonMobil and Todd Exploration of New Zealand; the other a joint venture of Austria’s OMV New Zealand, PTTEP Offshore Investment Co. of Thailand, and Mitsui Exploration of Japan. Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton banned bottom trawling and dredging over 30% of the seabed in New Zealand’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Royal New Zealand Navy in July commissioned the 9,000-metric-ton, 131-m (1 m = 3.28 ft) multipurpose vessel HMNZS Canterbury, to be supplemented by two new 85-m offshore patrol vessels and four 55-m inshore patrol craft. The first Victoria Cross for gallantry to be awarded to a New Zealand soldier since 1946 was bestowed on Special Air Services Corp. Willy Apiata for valour in Afghanistan. Apiata, age 35, had carried a seriously wounded comrade over 70 m of rocky gravel under enemy fire and in the face of return fire from his own side. Originally a British honour instituted in 1860, the Victoria Cross was adopted by New Zealand in 1999 as its own supreme military award for valour.

by: Neale McMillan