Monitoring the Ministers
We had expected to hear braying from Sports Minister Grant Robertson about funding announced for New Zealand’s high-performance athletes over the next three years.
He must have been busy with balancing the books or some such because High Performance Sport New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle did the announcing.
High Performance Sport New Zealand will fund 44 of the country’s National Sporting Organisations (NSO’s) to the tune of $131 million over the next three years.
In addition to the $131m, HPSNZ is investing $19m in performance support services such as psychology, strength and conditioning, nutrition, medical, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and athlete life coaching, which support athlete well-being.
Turning our attention back to the Beehive, we did hear – twice – from KiriAllan.
She announced new legislation will ensure the country’s emergency management system
“… is inclusive, modern and fit-for-purpose”.
Inclusiveness – we note – comes before fitness for purpose in the Minister’s considerations.
A Bill to build on what already works will be introduced to replace the now two decades old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.
A programme of work to build capacity and capability has been under way since a Ministerial Review highlighted vulnerabilities in the system, particularly in the response phase, following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and the 2017 Port Hill fire.
The Government allocated $46.6m over four years in Budget 2021 to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to strengthen our emergency management system and support inclusive, community-led responses to natural disasters and health events
The new Bill will introduce changes that clarify the roles and responsibilities at the national, regional, and local levels, and those of our critical infrastructure providers – the services that are essential for everyday life – to ensure optimal use of resources and coordination of effort.
More information on the work to develop the new Bill and other aspects of the emergency management system reforms is available at https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/cdem-sector/regulatory-framework-review-trifecta-programme/
As Minister of Conservation, Allan announced the allocation of funding for projects to build on existing conservation work or seek to recover lost natural heritage, habitats or important taonga species alongside a commitment to train up new staff.
She left it her audience to tot up the numbers.
- Te Mauri o Waihou led by Raukawa Charitable Trust, to restore and protect Te Puna/The Blue Spring; near Putaruru. The $993,000 investment will employ 14 people over three years, with work including visitor infrastructure to mitigate visitor impacts on native flora and fauna, biodiversity and environmental plans and monitoring, as well as pest control and revegetation.
- Ngā wai o Te Nehenehenui is a Wai Ora River Care initiative aimed at the restoration and revitalisation of waterways in the Maniapoto area. The one-year project has been funded $405,000, retaining six existing staff to propagate and plant native plants in the Mōkau catchment which will address historic changes in land use.
- Waipapa Pikiāriki is a two-year project delivering ecologically friendly pest and weed control by Kaitiaki Pest Control Solutions. Funding of $760,000 will allow effective pest control over 3388 hectares in the Pikiāriki and Waipapa blocks of Pureora, assisting in the protection of an area of great cultural and environmental significance and home to many taonga species.
- Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust has received $589,416 to provide four conservation cadet roles for rangatahi on the Maunga which will focus on pest and species management and infrastructure maintenance on the mountain, as well as the associated training for the young conservation professionals to deliver the work.
- Mangaiti Gully – A Hamilton-based organisation has received $653,359 for weed removal and riparian planting over three years in a gully within the city’s boundaries. Led by the Mangaiti Gully Restoration Trust and supported by the Waikato Environment Centre (Go Eco) it aims to enhance the Mangaiti Gully – part of Hamilton’s extensive gully network.
Latest from the Beehive
New legislation to modernise emergency management system
New legislation will ensure that our emergency management system is inclusive, modern and fit-for-purpose, Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan says.
Funding helps projects spring into action
Enhancing wetland areas, restoring the mana of a famous natural spring, maintaining a native plant nursery and protecting native species by reducing predators all feature in a tranche of conservation projects backed by funding through the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme.
Further Māori housing projects underway
This year saw the Government’s largest ever investment in Māori housing says Associate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing), Peeni Henare and Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson.
Point of Order 
Is this the same Raelene Castle who oversaw the cancelling of Israel Falau for repeating what is written in the Bible, the basic text of his religion ? How is it possible she is employed by High Performance Sport New Zealand, in what seems to be a very toxic environment already, according to reports of the various investigations made into New Zealand sports over the last several years: football, bike racing, hockey and whatever else you may recall.
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WHERE IS tUBBY rOBERTSON GETTING THE MONEY FROM? OR, DOES HE HAVE HIS OWN PRESSING PRESS??? FROM TREVOR,IN HENDERSON..
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