NZ Post decision good news for rural folk
The decision by New Zealand Post to retain five-day rural postal delivery services in the face of
changes that will see urban delivery possibly scaled back to as little as three days a week, is good
news for rural communities in more ways than one, Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand
chairman Dr Jo Scott-Jones says.
In an update of New Zealand Post 2013 Deed of Understanding urban areas may see a reduction to a
three day mail service from 2015, but the five day a week rural delivery service will remain
unchanged, except on runs that already have a lower frequency.
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Extra funding for rural health a welcome surprise
The announcement that an extra $9 million will be injected into rural general practice over the next
four years comes as a welcome surprise, says New Zealand Rural General Practice Network
chairperson Dr Jo Scott-Jones.
“I am surprised because we have been in discussions with the Ministry of Health and District Health
Boards over the rural sector’s funding formula – the Rural Ranking Score - during the past two years
and were given the impression that there was no more money however more money has been made
available to support rural communities and that has got to be a good thing,” says Dr Scott-Jones.
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Sth Canty youth suicide a major concern
There's room for improvement when it comes to the health of South Canterbury's youth. (Southland
Times)
The first in a series of annual reports, released by Wellbeing and Vitality in Education (Wave), shows
a range of areas, particularly in health, where South Canterbury is ranked higher than the national
average.
The report looked at 20 areas of health and wellbeing affecting children and youth.
Read more.
Meanwhile, Federated Farmers says efforts to tackle rural depression head on are starting to have
an impact. (RNZ)
A wide cross section of rural and health organisations have been campaigning to raise awareness
about the issue in response to statistics showing a high rate of suicides in rural communities.
Federated Farmers launched its 'When Life's a Bitch' campaign as part of that.
Health and safety spokesperson Jeanette Maxwell says there are signs that rural people are opening
up more about discussing depression and seeking help for it.
Read more.
Fed Farmers urges change at Fonterra
Federated Farmers says Fonterra should adopt the recommendations made in a review of its
handling of the botulism scare and to break down its "fortress Fonterra" mind-set. (RNZ)
Shareholders and customers say there was too much confusion when the contamination scare
began.
Read more.
Patients get to rank their stay in hospital
Patients will be able to write reviews of their public hospital stays when Trip Advisor-style ratings are
adopted in New Zealand next year. (Stuff)
Health Minister Tony Ryall has confirmed a patient ranking system for public hospitals, similar to
those already in use in Britain, will be rolled out nationwide.
It will allow patients to score hospitals on the quality of their emergency departments and inpatient
wards and comment on what they liked or disliked, including staff, beds and food.
Read more.
Spring storms testing farmer morale
The savage spring storms sweeping the country have been putting farmer morale to the test. (RNZ)
Gale-force winds moving up the country earlier this month knocked out power and caused
widespread disruption to transport networks from Canterbury to the southern North Island. As well,
the West Coast was hit with near-horizontal rain and flooding.
For Canterbury farmers and foresters, it's the second ferocious battering they've taken in just over a
month.
Read more.
Rural areas on the brink, census shows
The Waikato's small towns are getting smaller, while its big city keeps getting bigger. (Waikato
Times)
Population figures from the 2013 census just released by Statistics New Zealand reveal many of the
region's smaller centres, including Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Waitomo, are experiencing an ongoing
exodus.
Meanwhile, Hamilton's population has grown by 9.2 per cent since 2006. Some of the communities
close to the city have also experienced healthy population growth.
Read more.
Rural road rules in a state of flux
Rural contractors are being urged to keep up to date with changes to regulations governing work
hours and use of public highways in order to avoid falling foul of the law. (Stuff)
New regulations started coming into force from June 1, but all the changes will not be in place until
late 2014, according to Rural Contractors NZ board member Diane Pankhurst.
Read more.
Synlait talks up Chinese takeover offer
Synlait Farms chairman Barry Brook says it is "far too early" to say how most of the 100 or so
shareholders will respond to an $87.5 million takeover offer for the dairy company launched by a
giant Chinese corporate. (Stuff)
Brook said one of the larger Synlait Farms shareholders, Ben Dingle, had already decided to sell, and
that overseas investment in New Zealand by the Chinese should be welcomed.
Read more.
Buttermilk lake investigation under way
Fonterra needs to review its contingency plan in disposing of unwanted dairy products, says Waikato
Regional Council as its investigation into a buttermilk lake at Atiamuri, near Taupo, ramps up. (Stuff)
Trucks have been taking the buttermilk from Fonterra plants, including Te Rapa and Edgecumbe, to
the Tram Road farm for several weeks as Fonterra grapples with manufacturing this Spring's record
milk production.
Read more.
Mayor hopes Raetihi drinking water will be back on by Christmas
The Ruapehu District Mayor is remaining hopeful the town of Raetihi will have its water restored by
Christmas, despite estimates tap water will not be safe for drinking until next year. (RNZ)
Raetihi's taps have been off for a week after about 15,000 litres of diesel spilled into the Makotuku
River.
District council chief executive Peter Till says it could take more than three months to flush
contaminants out of the town's water supply.
Read more.
2degrees still the rural underdog
2degrees will remain the underdog in the rural mobile market after it bid for only 20 megahertz of
the 90MHz of "digital dividend" radio spectrum that was put up for auction by the Government on
October 29. (Stuff)
It agreed to pay the minimum reserve price of $44 million for two 10MHz blocks (each comprising
5MHz of "paired" spectrum) while Vodafone and Telecom each bid $66m for 30MHz (15MHz paired).
All the rights last until 2031.
Read more.
RHAANZ day at NZRGPN conference 2014
RHAANZ will host a day of workshops and speakers as part of the NZRGPN conference scheduled for
Wellington next year, March 12 to 16 at the TSB Arena/Shed 6 on the Capital’s waterfront.
The RHAANZ day is Wednesday, March 12. More details about the programme will be available
soon. Click HERE to visit the conference website.
At a glance
Farmer well-being is important (Farmnews), click here.
Rural Networks plan to reduce alarming suicide rates in farmers (Rural Women), click here.
NZ scientist wants ploughing outlawed (NZ Farmer), click here.
New Clutha Health First facility opens, click here.
KPMG Fieldnotes, click here.
One Farm (farm business management), click here.
Rural TV, NZ’s rural community online, click here.
AgResearch, click here.
Ministry of Health, click here.
Ministry for Primary Industries, click here.