Treasury prompting debate on key issues

In a recent NZ Herald story

More to be done on tax, education, says Treasury secretary - Business - NZ Herald News

Treasury Secretary, John Whitehead, championed the cause of reforms in tax and education to spur improved performance. It's good to see Treasury again prompting debate about longer term challenges facing the country.

There is a way out for Ireland, and Britain should stand ready to offer it

There is a way out for Ireland, and Britain should stand ready to offer it
The problem with an overly centralised EU is that it can drag down provincial economies through inappropriate monetary policy settings. There are lessons here for small island economies. Don't let speculative bubbles get out of hand. Balance the books. Keep taxes as low as is feasible.

kiwis take it to kangaroos

The New Zealand league team are level with Australia 6-6 as I write.  No matter the end result the kiwis have put on an awesome display of determination and strength tonight. Go the kiwis!

Nick Clegg: Coalition will support growth across whole country | The Liberal Democrats: Latest News Detail

Nick Clegg: Coalition will support growth across whole country The Liberal Democrats: Latest News Detail

A 1.4 billion pounds regional growth fund has been created - the first of many regional initiatives to be launched by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government in the UK.

Household Recycling Changes

In March next year Wellington City Council will be changing the way households recycle by introducing free 140-litre wheelie bins for recycling paper, metals and plastic. Recyclable glass will be collected in your existing 45-litre green recycling crate. 

The change to wheelie bins is expected to increase recycling in the city by 40 percent and reduce the risk of injury for the workers who lift the bins. Another benefit is that almost all of the city's recyclables will be processed in New Zealand.

If you live in an area where a wheelie bin can easily be delivered you will be asked if you do not want a 140-litre wheelie bin. If, however, you live in an area with hilly terrain and access issues, you will be sent a letter giving you the option of receiving see-through recyclable bags for your plastics, paper and metals instead.

The Council's CitiOperations Manager, Mike Mendonca, says the letters will be hitting people's mailboxes this week and encourages residents to respond within the deadline.

"It's important for people to realise that if we do not receive a response from you, we will supply you with a wheelie bin.

"However, we're trying to make it as easy as possible for people to let us know whether they want a wheelie bin or not by going online to Wellington.govt.nz, or alternatively filling out the enclosed form and sending it back to us, using the reusable envelope provided.

"We need to receive people's responses by Thursday 18 November." The reason the letters are going out five months before delivery of the bins in March 2011, Mike says, is for logistical reasons.

"We need to ensure plenty of lead-time for the manufacture and distribution, and in order to accurately estimate the number of wheelie bins required. That's why we need to know now.

"The closer we get to the estimated number, the better the price and cost to residents."

When the scheme is introduced next year the recycling collection day will remain the same - however the wheelie bins will be collected on alternate weeks to the glass recycling bin. More information on these changes and what can be recycled will be provided when your wheelie bin is delivered.

Beehive - School fibre set-up costs to be met by Crown

The government today announced a significant step forward in deploying broadband to schools. The sooner this capacity can be added and used by schools the better. Increasingly fibre and wireless technologies seem set to become standard for 21st century learning. Beehive - School fibre set-up costs to be met by Crown

Hobbit saved

The government has secured  the $670 million Hobbit movies for New Zealand. Prime Minister John Key announced the agreement with Warner Brothers last night after two days of negotiations with studio executives who had been worried about industrial disputes and wanted a bigger tax break than what NZ has previously offered for big movies, according to TVNZ.

Law changes will clear up confusion about the legal status of contractors and employees, but the $20 million tax break was much less than Warner Bros had asked for. A Bill will be put through Parliament today under urgency today to seal the deal. 

Key said that in financial terms there was no doubt Warner Brothers could have got a better deal from other countries, but the studio wanted to make the movies in New Zealand and so did director Sir Peter Jackson.
"They wanted a lot more, they argued for a lot more," he said.  "I made it clear we were at our limit, this is a better deal than we have had with other big movies made here in the past."

And the government has also won an agreement that New Zealand will be promoted through all the marketing DVDs and other material that will be used to publicise the two Hobbit movies, as well as hosting one of the world premieres.  To get that it will offset $US10 million of Warner Brothers marketing costs.

"The strategic marketing opportunities for New Zealand from the movies will be worth tens of millions of dollars," Key said.  "In the financial sense, this is a good deal."