The University of Canterbury is developing a master plan for a $1 billion investment in infrastructure at its Ilam campus over the next 20 years.

Today it has released details of several development scenarios which, Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr says, have been informed by the University’s commitment to supporting a world-class learning environment for staff and students. The need to make the campus more accessible has also been considered.

“Spaces need to be more inviting and supportive of learning in the 21^st century. It is difficult for visitors and newcomers to find their way around and connect with the life of the University,” Dr Carr says.

He says the campus has grown in a rather piecemeal way and a more integrated plan is needed to address issues such as the lack of a central campus hub, inflexible learning spaces and no recognised main entrance to the University.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning Resources) Professor Sue McKnight (pictured) – who is responsible for the University’s library, ICT and facilities management services – says current spaces within UC’s buildings have proved to be inflexible in their use.

“Research spaces need upgrading to match new standards and aspirations. New technologies have changed styles of teaching and learning. Student behaviour and expectations have also changed, weakening the distinctions between formal learning and social learning spaces. These all require a significant shift in the quality and mix of spaces within our learning environment,” Professor McKnight says.

Key elements of the draft master plan include a new gateway building to provide integrated student services and enable easier access to campus activities for students and visitors (which could incorporate a space for music performance); the expansion of science, engineering and arts facilities; possible re-location of facilities for sport and recreation; and possible re-location of the College of Education to bring it closer to the University’s other colleges.

“To support a world-class learning environment, we need to develop facilities that are fit-for-purpose in the 21st century and allow us to continue to attract talented students and faculty from within New Zealand and around the world,” says Dr Carr.

The 20-year investment is likely to be split between the construction of new buildings and refurbishment of existing facilities.

Although final decisions will rest with the University Council and much of the plan focuses on the teaching, learning and research needs of students and staff, the University is interested in the response of the wider community.  Further information is available at www.canterbury.ac.nz/theuni/campus_plan/. Comments can be emailed to masterplan@canterbury.co.nz.

Feedback from the current information programme will inform development of the master plan document that will be presented to the University of Canterbury Council in February 2011.

The draft development scenarios have been developed with input from various stakeholders including current students who, Dr Carr says, have expressed a desire for a central hub for study and social activities; improved food and retail services; a larger recreation centre; and improved security, transport connections and car parking.

 Iwi join Aussies in carbon forestry venture

 Six iwi have joined forces with an Australian carbon forestry company and are looking to mop up land in the Central North Island.

The country’s specialist carbon markets information service, Carbon News (www.carbonnews.co.nz) reports that CO2 New Zealand, a joint venture between Central North Island iwi commercial development company Tukai and the Australian company CO2, was incorporated in June.

The board is chaired by Ngati Tuwharetoa paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu and includes iwi leaders from the area.

Carbon News reports CO2 New Zealand chief executive Greg Adlam as saying that the company does not have automatic access to the iwi lands and forests “but it would be fair to say that we talk to them.”

Yesterday, CO2 called for expressions of interest from landowners in the Taupo district interested in going into carbon forestry.

The NZU forestry credits generated by the forests would be sold forward.

If you’re looking for more updates about what the campaign team are up to you need to hit them up on Facebook. A team member is talking to Auckland City Council to see if they will let the team light Shannon on fire, have her ride on a motocross bike with a friend off a ramp and in to Auckland harbour. Photos of the mayoral hopeful’s life are also up on the site, [as revenge], from the team members’ personal collections of the times they’ve spent with Ms Gillies. The election is soon so we encourage everyone to enrol and go out and vote. Democracy can’t happen without you. But if you are someone who feels all the candidates are the same, you hate politics, you don’t care, you don’t know who to vote for, you think you’ll vote for who ever your parents think you should vote for we suggest you have a look of our Facebook site and see if there’s anything there you like. Ms Gillies afterall is the most attractive candidate.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Shannon-Gillies-for-Auckland-SuperCity-Mayor/131214086922697?ref=sgm

WDC Needs to Commit to Sewerage Upgrade – Commissioners

Whangarei District Council has effectively been given until early February to adopt a comprehensive upgrade programme for its Whangarei Wastewater Treatment Plant – or risk the rejection of a crucial consent change it wants.

The Whangarei District Council (WDC) wants the Northland Regional Council (NRC) to allow it to significantly increase the maximum daily volume of minimally-treated wastewater it can discharge from the plant into Limeburners Creek during extreme wet weather.

In a just-released ‘interim decision’, two Independent Commissioners who in June heard the WDC’s application to change its existing WWTP discharge consent, say the Okara upgrade “has done little more than transfer the problem to the WWTP”.

The same Commissioners – Hamilton barrister Doug Arcus and Palmerston North consultant Hamish Lowe – earlier this month delivered a recommendation on the Okara station in which they were “highly critical” of the way the WDC had handled its wastewater discharges into Whangarei Harbour over the past two decades. They reiterate those concerns in their latest decision on the WWTP.

“On the basis of the submissions and evidence to date we could issue immediately a final decision declining consent (for the additional WWTP discharge).”

Among their reasons were the “significant” adverse effects from the proposed discharge and the fact it was contrary to relevant local authority and Resource Management Act provisions. They said the reasons for the WDC not adopting an appropriate level of treatment “are not sufficiently compelling”.

“Possible alternative methods of treatment of the discharge have not been considered (or at least advanced to us).”

But in part because of “further substantive upgrades” the WDC reportedly has planned for the WWTP, the Commissioners were prepared to issue an interim decision. This effectively puts the matter on hold and means the existing 90,000 cu m maximum daily discharge limit remains in place for now.

The Commissioners say it appears the upgrade the WDC has publicly promised could phase out discharges of minimally-treated wastewater to Whangarei Harbour “over a reasonably short period”.

“However, evidence of those upgrades was not sufficiently detailed for us to understand exactly what is proposed and more particularly the likely timing.”

On that basis, the Commissioners want the WDC to adopt a comprehensive upgrade programme for the WWTP to provide “full treatment” for all the wastewater it receives.

The Commissioners noted the Regional Council is already about to embark on a wider, compulsory review of the WWTP’s consents and told the NRC they want progress reports by 04 November this year and 04 February next year.

“If by 04 February 2011 there is in the view of the Commissioners inadequate progress by either or both Councils, then the Commissioners will confer to consider whether or not this (interim) decision should be made final.”

In the meantime, those who appeared before the Commissioners during the June hearing (including members of the public) still have the right to formally ask the Commissioners to make their interim decision final; in other words, decline the application.

In the event of such a request, the other parties involved would have 15 working days to respond – and those responses would then need to be considered by the Commissioners – before the Commissioners decide how to proceed.

Meanwhile, the interim decision can now also technically be appealed to the Environment Court.

The Commissioners’ full decision can be viewed on the NRC website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/consentdecisions

Speaking today after the Commissioners’ decision, NRC CEO Ken Paterson says he has noted the WDC’s recent significant change in direction in terms of its approach to wastewater discharges into Whangarei Harbour.

“I very much look forward to working cooperatively with WDC Chief Executive Mark Simpson to deliver a wastewater management system in line with environmental requirements and the expectations of the community.”

The Ministry of Fisheries has today opened public consultation on options for managing the impacts on fishing from set nets on Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins in two areas where the Minister has been asked to reconsider previous decisions as a result of a High Court ruling.

The ruling is the result of a legal challenge by the fishing industry lodged in 2008. The legal challenge centred around six specific area closures and fishing method restrictions, put in place by the previous Minister of Fisheries to manage the threat to Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins posed by fishing.

“The Ministry of Fisheries has released a consultation paper with a range of options for the two areas the High Court has referred back for reconsideration,” said Ministry of Fisheries Inshore Fisheries Team Leader Steve Halley.

“The Ministry is seeking the public’s views on which option they prefer,” Mr Halley said. “All submissions are welcome and will be carefully considered before any decision is made.”

The other four restrictions subject to the legal challenge were upheld by the Court and are not proposed to change. These restrictions relate to:
• The extension of set netting prohibitions further into the Manukau Harbour
• The seasonal two nautical miles set net prohibition on the West Coast of the South Island
• The four nautical mile set net closure outside Te Waewae Bay of the South Island
• The decision not to exempt the targeted fishing of butterfish in the Bluff area.

The consultation paper is available on the Ministry of Fisheries website www.fish.govt.nz. Submissions close on Tuesday 12 October 2010.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) welcomes today’s news that the Government and L3 Communications have reached agreement on completing the Air Force’s C130 Hercules aircraft Life Extension Programme in New Zealand.

“This is welcome news, especially for the Blenheim community where 92 skilled workers were laid off at SafeAir’s Woodbourne base earlier in the year,” says EPMU national secretary Andrew Little.

“Recruiting a team of skilled workers will be a major challenge because the workers that were laid off are now scattered around the country and overseas.”

“The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is keen to work with the Government on this and to ensure all the work is all done here in New Zealand.”

The EPMU represents aviation engineering members at Safe Air, a subsidiary of Air New Zealand.

 Call for better protection for endangered dolphins

Forest & Bird calls for better protection for endangered dolphins

Conservation organisation Forest & Bird calls for the Ministry of Fisheries to choose the best ways to protect endangered Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins from fishing set nets.

Today, the ministry asked for public feedback on how to manage the threats to the rare native dolphins from fishing in two areas. This follows the fishing industry’s partially successful legal challenge to the previous Minister of Fisheries’ measures to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins announced in 2008.

The independent conservation group also urges the ministry to extend protection of the native dolphins into other areas, such as Taranaki, where Maui’s dolphins have been recorded.

Forest & Bird does not want commercial fishing for butterfish off the top of the South Island east coast to continue – which is the ministry’s preference. “The fishing method used to catch butterfish has been banned to protect Hector’s dolphins in other areas off the South Island coast. Hector’s dolphins feed in the same areas where butterfish are caught,” Ms Knowles says.

“The Ministry of Fisheries should use this consultation to extend protection where Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins have been killed in commercial set nets. This includes Kaikoura, where two Hector’s dolphins have recently been killed.”

Hector’s dolphins are classified as nationally critical by the Department of Conservation and listed as an endangered species threatened with extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Just 7000 Hector’s dolphins are estimated to remain.

The North Island sub-species – Maui’s dolphin – numbers just 111 individuals. Maui’s dolphins are the rarest marine dolphins in the world.

Survival Of Fiji Times Now On A Knife-Edge

Thursday, 26 August 2010, 11:52 am
Press Release: Pacific Media Watch

Survival Of Fiji Times Now On A Knife-Edge

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/08/survival-of-fiji-times-now-on-a-knife-edge/
Time is running out for the 141-year-old influential newspaper as it has only a month to divest 90 percent of its Australian-ownership – or be forced to close down.

By Shannon Gillies

AUCKLAND (Pacific Scoop/Pacific Media Watch): Military dictatorship in Fiji has thrown the survival of the South Pacific’s longest running English-language daily newspaper in jeopardy.

The Fiji Times has served its host nation since it was founded in Levuka in 1869 – 141 years ago.

But now it faces an uncertain future, thanks to a recently adopted media decree imposed by the ruling military-backed regime.

The Media Industry Development Decree, made law on June 25, has made it virtually impossible for the Fiji Times’ owners, Sydney-based News Limited, to hold on to their Fiji newspaper.

The decree states that any media organisation based in the island nation must be 90 percent locally owned. Only a 10 percent stake may be held by foreigners.

News Limited has 90 days to sell with no hope of an extension from the government. Expressions of interest closed on August 9 and so far no announcement has been made about any sale of the newspaper.

No one from the Fiji Times is prepared to comment publicly about what the decree has done to the paper or on the general state of the Fiji media itself.

No comment
Fiji Times managing director Anne Fussell said she would not make any comment on the paper’s situation at the moment. News Limited corporate affairs director Greg Baxter said given the sensitivity of the issue and risks confronting the company’s staff in Fiji, he could not comment.

The decree has been strongly condemned by media commentators as an assault on freedom of the press and a national New Zealand reporter has slammed the Fijian government move as “oppression”.

But the Fiji government claims its hand was forced by the media into passing the decree.

Government spokesman John Penjueli said the decree was the military-led government’s answer to “irresponsible journalism” that had encouraged division and racism on the island prior to 2009.

On April 10, 2009, the Fiji constitution was abrogated.

“The media remains free to report on anything, provided its reports are balanced and accurate. In fact, constructive criticisms of government are encouraged because these help provide a check on the performance of civil servants and government agencies,” said Penjueli.

Since the decree came into effect, the media had shown a dramatic improvement in regards to its reports, he said.

Draconian decree
“Admittedly, these are early days, but the government anticipates that things will only get better.”

Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning said the decree was draconian. The decree was designed by the military regime as a media-freedom busting bill.

The way the Fiji Times owners had been forced out – as well as any other foreign investors who might have invested in local media – made it easier for the regime to assert control over editorial strategy and policy.

“The short term consequences are clear, the military regime is able to destabilise foreign-owned media, such as the Fiji Times, to a degree where its fiscal structures are affected,” he said.

“The legislation erodes the business’s value in real money terms, and renders it unable to continue to pursue an editorial policy that is independent of the military regime’s censors.

Long-term, the legislation re-establishes a nationalistic strategy that was conceived within a state of isolation and motivated by a military regime determined to control criticism of its domestic affairs.”

This legislation infringed on press freedom, he said.

Denied information
“My concern is that without arguments that represent the views and values of Fiji’s neighbouring countries being expressed or tested through non-regime-controlled media, then the Fijian people will be denied information that is their fundamental right to consider.

“The regime has embarked on a battle to control the public sphere in Fiji. This legislation is just another stepping-stone toward complete information control.”

The public needed to care because Fiji was an important state in the Pacific, said Manning.

Fiji has one of the largest island state populations and its economy and infrastructure are vital to the Pacific. It hosts numerous public, political, and academic regional facilities.

Fiji’s disengagement from Pacific regional affairs will further erode living standards of the Fijian people and allow a social condition where human rights abuses will be in evidence but remain largely unreported, said Manning.

Fairfax Media’s Auckland-based Pacific affairs reporter Michael Field said the decree had made it almost impossible to get an “on-the-record” quote from any critic of any aspect of Fiji life.

“The martial law decree thus has the immediate impact of freezing open discussion on anything,” he said.

The “ill thought out” decree had hurt the choice people had of openly criticising their government, Field said.

Oppressive law
He described the law as “oppression” designed to stop criticism of the regime.

“It denies fundamental human rights for a large part of the population of Fiji.”

The decree would ultimately result in a diminished Fiji news media, he said.

“Fiji use to be blessed with a diverse and lively news media. Now it has a cowered and frightened one.”

Pacific Media Centre director David Robie branded the decree as a flawed and sinister precedent for other South Pacific nations that have long eyed curbs on the media. He regards the decree as dangerous for the entire Pacific, not just in Fiji.

“Fiji has long had a proud tradition of a vigorous and free media. It had already been suffering after the censorship regime for a year. Now the decree codifies the climate of censorship,” said Dr Robie, who is also convenor of AUT University’s Pacific Media Watch free press project.

“Soon there will be many younger journalists who have only experienced working in the media under the pressure of censorship and self-censorship. They will not know how a free media should act.”

Corrupt politics
This media law was part of a military-led “revolution” against a corrupt political system.

“Fiji will never have a political system that parallels NZ, for example. Fiji has cast aside the trappings of its colonial-imposed democracy and is trying to create a new society and fairer institutions.

“Media is part of this ‘revolution’ and the regime wanted to get rid of the Australian-owned Fiji Times newspaper for a long time.

“The NZ media needs to be less hypocritical and to get to grips with this process of momentous change rather than being continually judgmental. History will ultimately judge this revolution.”

Penjueli said the media decree was the product of an analysis of media legislation of countries around the region, including Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Following the study, a team visited the relevant ministries in Singapore as well as Singapore’s Media Development Authority to review their operations and to learn from their experience.

Following this visit, draft legislation was developed and stakeholders consulted before the finalised decree was endorsed in late June 2010.

“The government’s main intention is to encourage the media to be responsible and balanced and where possible to focus on development journalism and the journalism of hope,” he said.

“Government also anticipates that by restricting overseas control of media to only 10 percent, Fiji’s national interests will be kept paramount.”

‘Journalism of hope’
Penjueli said the term “journalism of hope” equated to “positive journalism”.

“Journalism of hope” was related to a journalist’s attitude or the content they produced.

“Such journalism does not necessarily mean the absence of criticism. For constructive criticism is healthy and acceptable particularly if they add value to the bigger picture (or message) which is the overall objective of government’s reforms – a better, united and prosperous Fiji.

“Criticism as an end in itself is destructive and therefore discouraged.”

ENDS
Survival Of Fiji Times Now On A Knife-Edge

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/08/survival-of-fiji-times-now-on-a-knife-edge/
Time is running out for the 141-year-old influential newspaper as it has only a month to divest 90 percent of its Australian-ownership – or be forced to close down.

By Shannon Gillies

AUCKLAND (Pacific Scoop/Pacific Media Watch): Military dictatorship in Fiji has thrown the survival of the South Pacific’s longest running English-language daily newspaper in jeopardy.

The Fiji Times has served its host nation since it was founded in Levuka in 1869 – 141 years ago.

But now it faces an uncertain future, thanks to a recently adopted media decree imposed by the ruling military-backed regime.

The Media Industry Development Decree, made law on June 25, has made it virtually impossible for the Fiji Times’ owners, Sydney-based News Limited, to hold on to their Fiji newspaper.

The decree states that any media organisation based in the island nation must be 90 percent locally owned. Only a 10 percent stake may be held by foreigners.

News Limited has 90 days to sell with no hope of an extension from the government. Expressions of interest closed on August 9 and so far no announcement has been made about any sale of the newspaper.

No one from the Fiji Times is prepared to comment publicly about what the decree has done to the paper or on the general state of the Fiji media itself.

No comment
Fiji Times managing director Anne Fussell said she would not make any comment on the paper’s situation at the moment. News Limited corporate affairs director Greg Baxter said given the sensitivity of the issue and risks confronting the company’s staff in Fiji, he could not comment.

The decree has been strongly condemned by media commentators as an assault on freedom of the press and a national New Zealand reporter has slammed the Fijian government move as “oppression”.

But the Fiji government claims its hand was forced by the media into passing the decree.

Government spokesman John Penjueli said the decree was the military-led government’s answer to “irresponsible journalism” that had encouraged division and racism on the island prior to 2009.

On April 10, 2009, the Fiji constitution was abrogated.

“The media remains free to report on anything, provided its reports are balanced and accurate. In fact, constructive criticisms of government are encouraged because these help provide a check on the performance of civil servants and government agencies,” said Penjueli.

Since the decree came into effect, the media had shown a dramatic improvement in regards to its reports, he said.

Draconian decree
“Admittedly, these are early days, but the government anticipates that things will only get better.”

Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning said the decree was draconian. The decree was designed by the military regime as a media-freedom busting bill.

The way the Fiji Times owners had been forced out – as well as any other foreign investors who might have invested in local media – made it easier for the regime to assert control over editorial strategy and policy.

“The short term consequences are clear, the military regime is able to destabilise foreign-owned media, such as the Fiji Times, to a degree where its fiscal structures are affected,” he said.

“The legislation erodes the business’s value in real money terms, and renders it unable to continue to pursue an editorial policy that is independent of the military regime’s censors.

Long-term, the legislation re-establishes a nationalistic strategy that was conceived within a state of isolation and motivated by a military regime determined to control criticism of its domestic affairs.”

This legislation infringed on press freedom, he said.

Denied information
“My concern is that without arguments that represent the views and values of Fiji’s neighbouring countries being expressed or tested through non-regime-controlled media, then the Fijian people will be denied information that is their fundamental right to consider.

“The regime has embarked on a battle to control the public sphere in Fiji. This legislation is just another stepping-stone toward complete information control.”

The public needed to care because Fiji was an important state in the Pacific, said Manning.

Fiji has one of the largest island state populations and its economy and infrastructure are vital to the Pacific. It hosts numerous public, political, and academic regional facilities.

Fiji’s disengagement from Pacific regional affairs will further erode living standards of the Fijian people and allow a social condition where human rights abuses will be in evidence but remain largely unreported, said Manning.

Fairfax Media’s Auckland-based Pacific affairs reporter Michael Field said the decree had made it almost impossible to get an “on-the-record” quote from any critic of any aspect of Fiji life.

“The martial law decree thus has the immediate impact of freezing open discussion on anything,” he said.

The “ill thought out” decree had hurt the choice people had of openly criticising their government, Field said.

Oppressive law
He described the law as “oppression” designed to stop criticism of the regime.

“It denies fundamental human rights for a large part of the population of Fiji.”

The decree would ultimately result in a diminished Fiji news media, he said.

“Fiji use to be blessed with a diverse and lively news media. Now it has a cowered and frightened one.”

Pacific Media Centre director David Robie branded the decree as a flawed and sinister precedent for other South Pacific nations that have long eyed curbs on the media. He regards the decree as dangerous for the entire Pacific, not just in Fiji.

“Fiji has long had a proud tradition of a vigorous and free media. It had already been suffering after the censorship regime for a year. Now the decree codifies the climate of censorship,” said Dr Robie, who is also convenor of AUT University’s Pacific Media Watch free press project.

“Soon there will be many younger journalists who have only experienced working in the media under the pressure of censorship and self-censorship. They will not know how a free media should act.”

Corrupt politics
This media law was part of a military-led “revolution” against a corrupt political system.

“Fiji will never have a political system that parallels NZ, for example. Fiji has cast aside the trappings of its colonial-imposed democracy and is trying to create a new society and fairer institutions.

“Media is part of this ‘revolution’ and the regime wanted to get rid of the Australian-owned Fiji Times newspaper for a long time.

“The NZ media needs to be less hypocritical and to get to grips with this process of momentous change rather than being continually judgmental. History will ultimately judge this revolution.”

Penjueli said the media decree was the product of an analysis of media legislation of countries around the region, including Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Following the study, a team visited the relevant ministries in Singapore as well as Singapore’s Media Development Authority to review their operations and to learn from their experience.

Following this visit, draft legislation was developed and stakeholders consulted before the finalised decree was endorsed in late June 2010.

“The government’s main intention is to encourage the media to be responsible and balanced and where possible to focus on development journalism and the journalism of hope,” he said.

“Government also anticipates that by restricting overseas control of media to only 10 percent, Fiji’s national interests will be kept paramount.”

‘Journalism of hope’
Penjueli said the term “journalism of hope” equated to “positive journalism”.

“Journalism of hope” was related to a journalist’s attitude or the content they produced.

“Such journalism does not necessarily mean the absence of criticism. For constructive criticism is healthy and acceptable particularly if they add value to the bigger picture (or message) which is the overall objective of government’s reforms – a better, united and prosperous Fiji.

“Criticism as an end in itself is destructive and therefore discouraged.”

Significant increase in Maori and Pacific women having cervical smears