A review of New Zealand’s Workplace Health and Safety Strategy has identified key areas where work is needed to reduce workplace deaths and accidents, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson.

"I have been concerned at the toll in our workplaces and last year’s fatalities report along with this review serve to highlight we need to work harder with high risk industries, notably construction, agriculture and forestry," Ms Wilkinson says.

The 10 year strategy was launched in 2005 and Cabinet decided then that there should be a review after three years’ operation to determine effectiveness and any change required to ensure the strategy continues to be relevant and effective.

"The review is clear in that we are doing a lot of things well and progress is being made, but more needs to be done at ground level.

"In five months late last year, for example, there were nine deaths in the construction industry, one more than the entire 12 month period before. Four of these deaths were from falls.

"While the construction industry has significantly improved its safety performance, we need to work closer with all the sub-sectors of commercial, civil and residential construction.

"Part of the focus will be to ensure greater communication and co-ordination with industry bodies and small businesses, so that workplaces are aware of the causes of harm and do not repeat the same mistakes.

"The construction, agriculture and forestry industries already have successful practical initiatives in place and I will be overseeing the development of a new set of actions that aims to assist them to take this work further."

There were over 6100 serious harm incidents at work in 2009, slightly less than in 2008, with the toll hovering above or around the 6000 mark for the past five years.

The strategy review is available on the Department of Labour’s website http://www.whss.govt.nz/review/review-report.shtml.

 Media contact: Christian Bonnevie, 04 817-8266 or 021 243-8266.

Posted by staff in News at 10:23

Today is a special day. For me personally, it is my first official act as Minister of Conservation and so it is a double delight to be invited to open this superb kiwi crèche.

As Associate Minister I managed to come into personal contact with three of the five different species of kiwi - brown, little spotted and rowi. So really I must thank you for the opportunity today to add the great spotted kiwi to my list, which leaves just the tokoeka to go.

I’m sure most New Zealanders share my enthusiasm for our national bird. This makes the kiwi work being undertaken, such as the establishment of your kiwi crèche here, very important to ensure the survival of the kiwi so future generations of New Zealanders will have the same opportunity as we do today to observe this remarkable bird in its natural surroundings.

What we are celebrating today is a reminder of the benefit of thinking outside of the square. When you have people, like Paul Schram and Jo Tilson and many of you here, working in conservation off their own bat it makes a big difference. Not only do you extend the work that our staff in the department can carry out, but the pool of people thinking about how we carry out conservation work increases.

I’ve had some great opportunities to see the work that is carried out in New Zealand and I am always moved by the goodwill and sacrifice of the different parties who are involved. With the Paparoa Wildlife Trust we see a group of people who have had a great love of this area, have worked hard, and have dared to dream big. A group that has maintained over 200 stoat traps over 20kms on a largely volunteer basis has to be commended.

A kiwi crèche is no small undertaking, and the trusts’ attitude has won the hearts and chequebooks of a number of organisations who have supported this ambitious endeavour.

I think that moving forward in the world and having conservation in mind means that businesses are fully considering and appreciating the natural wealth that we have when making commercial decisions. More and more I see business engaged in conservation – supporting and sustaining our conservation economy.

We rely on our native natural assets to support many of our industries, our national identity and our way of life. The natural beauty and ecological processes we see around us have an intrinsic worth, and are also a very valuable asset that is worth protecting. I am seeing this sentiment echoed from businesses who are involved in conservation over and over again, and I think that they all deserve a big pat on the back. So I would like to thank major sponsors, Roa Mining and the Bank of New Zealand for helping the Paparoa Wildlife Trust to think big. It bodes well for our future to have businesses and the community thinking about the importance of New Zealand’s biodiversity and appreciating and doing something to maintain and grow our natural treasure chest. Thank you very much for all of your hard work in establishing this crèche, which I would now like to declare officially open!

Posted by staff in Speech at 10:19

The Government has moved to increase the minimum wage from $12.50 to $12.75 in line with the Consumer Price Index, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The training and new entrants’ minimum wages will increase from $10 to $10.20.

"The Government is focussed on the need to find a balance between protecting jobs and ensuring a fair wage.

"We do not want to see workers priced out of the market, but we are confident that a 25c increase, in line with inflation, will not overly harm or discourage businesses from taking on new staff.

"The Government is working hard to provide the right environment for economic growth and ensuring workers can maintain the buying power of their wages is part of that," Ms Wilkinson says.

The new minimum wage rate will come into effect on April 1, 2010.

Media contact: Christian Bonnevie 04 817 8266 021 243 8266

Posted by staff in News at 10:13