News In Brief

Alliance Party launches Drop Debt Today Campaign

Alliance education spokesperson, Richard Mitchell, has announced the official launch of their Drop Debt Today (DDT) campaign.

“Student debt is now at over $10 billion dollars and rising. The party believes that education for all is a right not a privilege. Student loans are out of control. Let’s drop the debt and give young people a good start in life,” says Mr Mitchell.

The Alliance is calling on the government to wipe all loan repayments and introduce a free education system. Only by making education free can we hope to encourage more people into higher education providing a more secure future for all NZers.

More alcohol and cigarettes available for consumption

During the 2008 year, the total volume of alcoholic beverage available for consumption increased 3.4 per cent, to reach 486.4 million litres, Statistics NZ has said. The number of cigarettes available for consumption was up 4.3 per cent, to 2.5 billion in 2008.

The increased total volume of alcoholic beverage available was driven by an increased volume of beer, with smaller increases in wine and spirits. Beer is still the most popular type of alcoholic beverage in NZ.

Spirits and spirit-based drinks now represent 14.3 per cent of the total alcoholic beverage available for consumption, continuing the steady increase since 1996.

For 2008, the proportions for beer and wine both decreased slightly.

The volume of pure alcohol available per person aged 15 years and over increased 3.3 per cent from 2007, to reach 9.5 litres in 2008. This is the highest volume since 1994.

Enterprising Rural Woman Award response overwhelming

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has been overwhelmed by the number of entries for the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009.

“We are delighted by the response,” says RWNZ’s national president, Margaret Chapman.
“Forty-six women operating a wide variety of businesses from one end of the country to the other have entered the award, which will make the task of judging very challenging.”

The award is being judged by Theresa Gattung of Wool Partners International, Amber Quinnell of the BNZ, which is sponsoring the Award, and RWNZ’s national president, Margaret Chapman.

Three finalists will be selected and the winner will be announced at the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009 on Friday 15th May, as part of RWNZ’s national conference.