Issues relating to the rural Community are constantly occurring. These can easily be missed. If you or your organisation are concerned about an issue and have knowledge you would like to share with others, e.g. health issues, legislation and social policies, this page provides the opportunity to publicise this. Email, fax 03-464 3794 or post your contribution to Not Just Gumboots & Scones, c/o Kate Wilson, RD 2 , Middlemarch. Please state who you represent if other than yourself.

Our Environment - What Matters To You?

Ministry for the Environment is seeking community views on the progress NZ is making with our key environmental problems. A "Rio+10" response form and starter kit available online at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/new/rio.htm

(Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

Foot & Mouth Frequently Asked Questions available at Rural Bulletin.

See also latest Foot & Mouth news at MAFF, UK

Mobile Surgery Bus

A mobile surgery bus will travel to rural hospitals to perform elective day surgery. In the South Island, six hospitals with secondary facilities will host the mobile surgery bus: Balclutha, Buller, Clyde, Gore, Oamaru and Queenstown.

More information can be viewed at http://www.mmt.co.nz

(Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

Work and Income Regional Plans

The plans summarise the employment approaches each DWI Regional Commissioner intends to pursue to get more beneficiaries into paid work within their region. Local projects planned this year include establishing Moving South Taskforces to create new job opportunities in Otago and Southland.

 

See also http://www.executive.govt.nz/minister/maharey

 

(Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

 

Community Action Fund Trial

Several communities throughout NZ are to trial the 'Stronger Communities Action Fund'. The Fund works by giving money to individual communities to use for solving local welfare problems. One community is Invercargill, where the trial will be co-ordinated by Ngai Tahu.

(Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

New Programmes for Regional And Business Development

Three new advice and practical assistance programmes are to be introduced by 1 September, 2000. They will be managed by Industry NZ (INZ) and will also include the existing BIZ programme:

Industry NZ Enterprise Awards Scheme
Industry NZ Regional Partnerships Programme
The Industry NZ Investment Ready Scheme (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

Proposed Education Council

Submissions close 21 August 2000. You can have your say by: completing part or all of the response form that comes with the paper and sending it to: Education Council Consultation, Office of the Minister of Education, Parliament Buildings, Wellington; or completing a response form electronically and submitting it by email via the website at http://www.edcouncil.govt.nz (you can download a copy of the discussion paper from here too); or emailing a submission to edcouncil.responses@edcouncil.govt.nz

Travel and Accommodation Help - Have Your Say

Submissions close 30 September 2000. Consultation documents and submission forms are available from the "Consultation" section of the HFA site - http://www.hfa.govt.nz - or by calling 0800 ENQUIRE (0800 367 8473)

Check out the first changes in the Welfare Reforms

Compulsory Smoke Alarms?

Read the Building Industry Authority's proposal to amend the building law to make smoke alarms mandatory in new household units

Public Say on import to NZ of US Chicken Meat (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

Pilot "Healthline" Launched (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

Special Education 2000 Review. Also check out the Ministry of Education's website

E-Government Vision (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

A copy of this paper is available at http://www.govt.nz/evision/index.php3.

NZ's law drafting office, Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) has recently released a report, 'Improving Public Access to Legislation'. The report recommends that free public access to current legislation over the Internet be up and running by mid 2002. Available by email from: parliamentary.counsel@parliament.govt.nz

Also in pdf file format: http://www.pco.parliament.govt.nz/papers/request.pdf

GM Royal Commission (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

What are the options available to NZ, as a country, for dealing with genetic modification now and in the future?

So, You've been Scammed? Here's How to Take Action! (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

Steps you can take if you think you have been ripped off.

The Facts about Seatbelts (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

What does the law say? Why use them? What about children? Do they eventually wear out?

Community Organisations: Committee/Staff Relationships (Courtesy Rural Bulletin)

How to establish an effective working relationship between the committee/board and the staff, who carry out its day to day work. Excellent links to web-based resources.

Australia New Zealand Food Labeling Authority (ANZFA)

ANZFA, in cooperation with the Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and the New Zealand Government, develops food standards and other regulatory measures for Australia and New Zealand.

Safer and Healthier Gardening Advice on everything from Organisms in Garden Soil and Garden Chemicals to Legionella and Poisonous Plants.

Rural E-mail Network?

Are you interested in discussing issues affecting the rural community via E-mail? Long time rural activist, Danna Glendinning, is interested in establishing such a group.She can be contacted at danna@actrix.gen.nz

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

ACC:

Ministry of Labour's ACC information web site
Accident Compensation Corporation

Family Assistance - Are You Missing Out?

New National Weed Strategy

Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)

QEII National Trust, Southland

Southland DOC Community Relations Officer

We acknowledge the generosity of Rural Bulletin in allowing us the use of their material.