Eric Roy

Just released by the New Zealand Police:

The Southland Policing Area has continued to achieve positive results with an impressive 10.4% crime reduction for the 2011 calendar year and a 58.6% resolution rate.

The number of recorded offences dropped from 8,790 in 2010 to 7,874 in 2011.

Area Commander Inspector Lane Todd says the latest crime reductions continue to build on the positive results for the Southland community for the last three years. Together with this year’s reduction of 10.4% and the reduction of 12.2% in 2010, the reduction over the past two years has been 21.4%, or 2,100 less offences.

That’s great news.  You can read more here.

You can read the detail behind the Prime Minister’s speech by clicking here.

The Parliamentary Library produces the above 11 times every year, and I will be linking to it from now on as it is a useful source of data for constituents who are interested:

The Monthly Economic Review is an overview of the New Zealand economy. It includes the latest data on New Zealand’s economic growth, unemployment, inflation, merchandise trade and balance of payments figures, along with certain financial data (such as the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate). The unemployment rate, economic growth and central bank interest rates for several of our main OECD trading partners are also included. Each publication highlights a specific topic of interest. The Monthly Economic Review is produced eleven times per year.

Click here to download the latest edition.

The National-led Government today announced our next steps to extend the mixed ownership model. 

National campaigned on extending mixed ownership to four state-owned energy companies – while keeping majority control.  This is a sensible policy for New Zealand’s future at a time of continuing international volatility.

Mixed ownership is a win-win for New Zealanders

It frees up $5 billion to $7 billion – less than 3 per cent of the Government’s  assets – to invest in much needed public assets like modern schools and hospitals. This means we can provide much needed new assets without having to borrow on fragile overseas markets.

This policy will help the Government reduce debt and meet our commitment to get back to surplus by 2014/15. It also gives New Zealanders the opportunity to invest in good Kiwi companies at a time when they are looking for alternatives to property and finance companies.

How mixed-ownership works

Over the next three to five years, the Government will offer shares in four state-owned energy companies – Mighty River Power, Solid Energy, Meridian, and Genesis – along with further shares in Air New Zealand (which is already successfully operating under mixed ownership). 

We’ll keep at least a 51 per cent majority control of each company.  New Zealand investors will be at the front of the queue for shares and we’re confident that 85-90 per cent of shares will be owned by New Zealanders.

Legislation, introduced to Parliament today, also makes sure no investor, other than the Government, can own more than 10 per cent of each company.

Next steps

Legislation will be debated in Parliament this Thursday before going to a select committee.

Subject to market conditions, Mighty River Power will be offered to market later this year.

For further information click here.

Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that the Government would contribute $780,000 towards the clean-up of the Waituna Lagoon is great news.

Waituna Lagoon is an iconic Southland lagoon that is seriously degraded after decades of neglect. I have made several representations to the Environment Minister to seek support for local efforts to clean-up the lagoon, and am pleased they have resulted in this funding.

The clean up project involves a contribution from the Government’s Fresh Start for Freshwater Clean-up Fund of $780,000.  This represents 50 per cent of the total project costs.  The other partners in the project are: Environment Southland, Te Ao Marama Inc., Dairy NZ, Department of Conservation, Federated Farmers, Fert Research, and Southland District Council

Increasing nutrients, sediment, slime algae and phytoplankton threaten the future of the Waituna Lagoon.  Contributing to its decline is the reduction in cover of Ruppia species in the Lagoon.  Ruppia is a key species because of its importance as a habitat, food source and because of its role in regulating water quality. The decreasing water quality means the Lagoon is particularly vulnerable to an effect known as ‘lake flipping’.

The latest lake water quality survey shows the Waituna lagoon as the most polluted siginificant water body in Southland with a eutrophic index of 4.5 and deteriorating.

We need to take some real steps to prevent the ongoing pollution as well as this support from Government to help clean the Lagoon up.

about the Stewart Island Visitor Levy Bill – click here to listen.