NZ Immunisation Rates Well Below Par

Our immunisation completion rates are far lower than in many other developed and underdeveloped countries (which have completion rates up to 95%), and there are significant inequities for many of our most vulnerable children. (Māori uptake in Auckland and Counties Manukau is 64%).

The Health Select Committee is inquiring into these matters and is seeking submissions. The terms of reference for this inquiry are as follows:

1. To collate current statistics for New Zealand children on timeliness of delivery and completion of immunisation, and how we compare internationally.
2. To assess how well the New Zealand Immunisation Register is working, and the effectiveness of utilisation.
3. To search relevant world literature for optimal methods of how to achieve timely and high immunisation completion rates.
4. To seek up-to-date information on community concerns, informed consent and conscientious objection issues.
5. To seek an analysis of benefits and disadvantages.
6. To define, and make recommendations as to what methods could be applied at minimal cost to improve immunisation in New Zealand,( bearing in mind the first 60% are easier to get, the next 20-30% require more effort, the next 5% lots of effort and around 5% are declines).

The Health Select Committee committee will be advertising for submissions in the next few days.

ICT-literate Mums - key election influence in UK

ICT-literate Mums are emerging as the new battleground for electoral success in the UK election campaign. Increasingly Mums (and some Dads) are using mobiles and laptops as a means of staying in touch with their communities while combining parental roles at home or while working part time. The Independent today reports as follows.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/meet-cyberwoman-the-battleground-for-the-next-election-1822412.html

Vodafone Foundation - A Corporate Philanthropic Leader

In October the Vodafone Foundation hosted over 70 guests - including MPs and senior officials to a celebration of the work of the Foundation. The Vodafone Foundation is a leader in the nation's corporate philanthropy. Each year it donates over $1million to the cause of helping New Zealand's high needs young people. For more details www.vodafonenzfoundation.org.nz

TSO Tackled At Last

The Minister of Communications, Steven Joyce, has issued a Discussion Document proposing a new and much fairer way of charging for TSO costs. He has also proposed the introduction of a new Development Levy to be charged against telecommunications companies. While there may be some concern about the imposition of yet another levy on the sector the proposal to set the TSO Levy at zero is one that will be welcomed by most of the telecommunications sector. It has long been a thorn in the side of the non-Telecom operators and most will be pleased to see the back of the TSO levy as soon as possible.

Kennedy Dies

Senator Edward Kennedy dies at age 77 - Yahoo! News
Yahoo News covers Senator Ted Kennedy's remarkable career spanning almost half a century. Kennedy was a flawed human being - like all of us. He deserves credit, however, for his principled advocacy for public healthcare and gun control. His support for the poor and the marginalised provided an inspiring example and a challenge to the establishment. America is better because of the contribution he made.

Mobile and Productive

The links between adoption of mobile technology and productivity have been further evidenced with new research being completed by McKinseys. Billions of dollars of value has been added to the US economy in recent years due to mobile devices - phones, PDAs and laptops. If productivity is the end game then we could do a lot worse than look for ways to ensure that kiwi companies and business operators have the information they need, wherever they are at whatever time they need it. This is the power of mobility.

Productivity - The Challenge for the nation

The new watchword is productivity. Our ability to be more productive as a nation is likely to be the leading factor in new Zealand's growth and propsperity in the next two decades. Its not just about working harder. We need to work smarter. new Zealanders are already among the hardest working people in the OECD.
Quality of management, application of technology in ways that add value and boost productivity - these are the areas where we need to focus.

Skills development, lower income tax rates, and the promotion of investment in export-led, high value goods and services have to be part of the new policy programme. Science and technology have key rolls to play. We can't just reply on dairy products or tourism to prosper.