Open Journal Systems at the Victoria University of Wellington Library
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Integrated Prevention and Control of Seasonal Respiratory Infections in Aotearoa New Zealand: next steps for transformative change
Get PDFPublic health measures that successfully eliminated the spread of Covid-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand during 2020 also profoundly reduced the normally high seasonal burden of non-Covid infectious diseases. One outcome of this extraordinary year was that life expectancy in New Zealand actually increased during 2020, the first year of this global pandemic. We should not accept or allow a return to previous levels of illness and death during the winter months.
Transformative change will require an integrated approach to infectious disease policy that builds on the knowledge and infrastructure developed during the first two years of the pandemic response. An effective strategy will include generic elements – notably, science-informed strategic leadership, a Tiriti and equity focus, and an upgraded alert level system. We will also need a specific plan for infectious respiratory diseases, including measures to improve indoor air quality, a national mask strategy, and an enhanced system to deliver vaccinations against seasonal respiratory infections.
Such an approach can have immediate and long-term benefits, protecting New Zealanders from endemic, epidemic and pandemic infections. We face a potentially difficult winter in 2022, with multiple infectious disease threats. There is an urgent need for integrated policy and action to prevent and control both Covid-19 and more familiar winter season respiratory infections. In the future, 2020 should be seen as the watershed year that triggered a transformative improvement in New Zealand’s poor track record of infectious disease incidence and inequities
Barriers to Active Travel: Among Primary School-Aged Children in Wellington
Get PDFActive school travel (walking, biking, scootering or skating to and from school) is declining in Wellington. This is concerning because active forms of transport benefit children’s mental and physical health, as well as producing wider societal benefits such as less noise, reduced air pollution, lower congestion and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. This article explores the barriers to active school travel among primary school-aged children in Wellington, based on an anonymous online survey of parents. The results indicate that the main barriers to active school travel are related to safety concerns, family schedule complexities, and the efficiency of other modes of transport. Possible solutions include a walking school bus programme and more flexible working hours for parents, specifically during school drop-off and pick-up times
Reversing Biodiversity Decline in Aotearoa New Zealand
Get PDFReflections on the history of and prognosis for reversing biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand are provided from the perspective of a 40-year involvement in terrestrial ecology and its interface with central and local government policy development and implementation. The emerging favourable policy framework, continuing growth of iwi-and community-led conservation, and a shift to regional-scale restoration give cause for optimism. But reversal of biodiversity decline over still greater areas is required, alongside an in-perpetuity commitment to management that enhances indigenous biodiversity
Changing Family Incomes in New Zealand 2007–20
Get PDFThis article describes income mobility patterns in New Zealand over the short to medium term. It uses a special dataset which tracks the Household Labour Force Survey over the period from 2007 to 2020, using 2013 census data. The measure of income is total family taxable income per adult equivalent person. The income unit is the individual. Just below half of those initially in the bottom decile remained either there or in the second-lowest decile over seven years, while about two-thirds of those initially in the top decile remained either there or in the second-highest decile. Income mobility was least for those in the top and bottom deciles. People also move below or above a low-income threshold over time. Of those who initially had incomes less than half of the median income per adult equivalent person, about half remained in that category after six to seven years. Unemployment and single parenthood were closely associated with longer-term low income. Policies that promote employment and education may be effective, yet not necessarily sufficient, in reducing low income and low-income persistence
The Art of the Possible. Data-Driven Insights into Child Poverty in New Zealand
No full textA central goal of income support policies is to reduce the number of families below a minimum standard of living; in other words, to reduce the number of people in poverty. But one challenge is that there is no single measure of what it means to be poor. This article outlines an experimental approach that uses the available data to provide insights into the different dimensions of poverty. It applies a statistical algorithm to three poverty indicators to identify seven different categories of children in poverty, and describes the characteristics of children in each group
Integrating Science into Policy: experiences during the pandemic
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic has posed enormous challenges to governments worldwide, but New Zealand’s government in particular has been praised for a science-based approach to decision making. In this article I review the way in which several scientific work streams were integrated into decision making and consider the advantages that this offered New Zealand’s response. As one of the scientists who was closely involved with this, I offer a personal perspective on how this came about and some observations for future crises
Restoring Public Trust and Confidence in New Zealand’s Intelligence and Security Agencies is a parliamentary commissioner for security the missing key?
Get PDFNew Zealand’s two intelligence and security agencies play crucial roles in preserving our democracy and protecting the public from various harms associated with political violence. Scandals involving intelligence professionals likely diminish public trust and confidence in these agencies, which appears to be very low among some marginalised communities and minority groups. While official secrecy is required for sound strategic and operational reasons, it hampers meaningful articulation of the value proposition underpinning these agencies and their work. Reassuring the public is vital for the intelligence and security agencies, given their highly intrusive powers. Rather than more reviews of, increased transparency by, or stronger accountability over the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau, we suggest that a parliamentary commissioner for security is needed to help foster a level of public awareness and build the understanding required for trust and confidence to be restored in these agencies
Between Innovation and Precedent the Treaty of Waitangi exception clause in Aotearoa New Zealand’s free trade agreements
No full textNew Zealand includes a Treaty of Waitangi exception clause in all its free trade agreements. The clause aims to protect Māori interests arising from the government’s Treaty of Waitangi obligations. But despite changes to New Zealand’s trade agreements, an evolving relationship between the New Zealand government and Māori, and debate over the adequacy of the clause, the exception clause has remained unchanged for 20 years. We suggest that the reproduction the same text helps New Zealand negotiators to credibly argue that inclusion of the clause is required for domestic political reasons. Yet this textual stability also hinders innovation. At the international level, FTA partners might balk at any widening of policy discretion afforded by a revised clause. At the domestic level, revising the clause would require difficult debate over the extent of appropriate protections for Māori in New Zealand’s trade agreements. As calls to change the exception clause grow, New Zealand trade policymakers will need to carefully balance innovation and precedent
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