Thanks, Minister – but our wellbeing would be greatly improved if we knew the cost of this mental health initiative
Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly is among the ministers who contributed to a flood of announcements and speeches to the government’s official website in the past 24 hours.
But we suspect something is missing from his enthusing about the Government and Auckland Business Chamber entering a memorandum of understanding
“… which will enable mental health and wellbeing resources for business owners to be freely available”.
Under the memorandum of understanding, the resources – developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – will be managed and updated by the Auckland Business Chamber.
What’s missing?
There is not one dollar sign in the media statement – or anything else – to inform us about the cost to taxpayers. But you can be sure somebody is picking up the tab.
And what exactly is First Steps?
According to its website, First Steps is a nation-wide initiative, provided in collaboration with The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Health, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Employers and Manufacturers Association. It is confidential and free to access. It
“… is a space that encourages business owners, managers and employees to prioritise wellbeing and awareness, so they can continue to grow impactful and profitable businesses while living balanced and fulfilling lives.”
A space? Does that suggest it should come under Judith Collins’ “Space” portfolio.
In a separate statement, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey described the new peer support service launched in Middlemore’s Emergency Department as a positive step towards improving mental health outcomes.
Doocey also announced:
Under the memorandum of understanding, the resources – developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – will be managed and updated by the Auckland Business Chamber.
What’s missing?
There is not one dollar sign in the media statement – or anything else – to inform us about the cost to taxpayers. But you can be sure somebody is picking up the tab.
And what exactly is First Steps?
According to its website, First Steps is a nation-wide initiative, provided in collaboration with The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Health, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Employers and Manufacturers Association. It is confidential and free to access. It
“… is a space that encourages business owners, managers and employees to prioritise wellbeing and awareness, so they can continue to grow impactful and profitable businesses while living balanced and fulfilling lives.”
A space? Does that suggest it should come under Judith Collins’ “Space” portfolio.
In a separate statement, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey described the new peer support service launched in Middlemore’s Emergency Department as a positive step towards improving mental health outcomes.
Doocey also announced:
- Six new Crisis Recovery Cafés will be rolled out around the country over the next two years.
- The first Child and Youth Mental Health and Addiction Prevalence Survey ever undertaken in New Zealand.
- $6.6 million for Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS) over two years, which will be used for additional frontline FTE.
David Seymour’s roundup of truants
Associate Education spokesperson David Seymour announced the release of a new resource to inform the introduction of Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) systems in every school. The aim is to increase school attendance.
It will be mandatory for all schools to have an attendance management plan based on STAR from the beginning of the 2026 school year.
The press statement doesn’t explain what the STAR system is, perhaps because…
Each school will develop their own STAR system to suit their community and school.
A document attached to the press statement provides a best practice template.
A link is also provided on the Ministry of Education website https://www.education.govt.nz/stepped-attendance-response-star
In a separate statement, Seymour expressed his disapproval of students who would be joining the school climate strike planned for today.
“If students feel strongly about sending a message, they could have waited until Monday, when the end of term holidays begin and there is no school for two weeks. It has become far too common to sacrifice valuable learning time for other causes,” says Mr Seymour.
Nicole McKee’s shot at pleasing the gun lobby
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee let us know the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges and Other Matters) Amendment Bill had passed its first reading.
The package of reforms in the Bill aim to enable simple and effective regulation of pistol and non-pistol shooting clubs and ranges, “with a focus on public safety”.
The Bill will:
- maintain the regulatory requirements for pistol clubs and ranges but streamline annual reporting requirements;
- simplify the regulatory requirements for non-pistol clubs and ranges by replacing the approval and certification systems “with a more effective enrolment system”;
- require non-pistol clubs to be incorporated only if they sell ammunition, unless all ammunition sold by the club is purchased for, and used, on the day of sale at the club range or event and is not taken off the premises;
- support the operation of temporary non-pistol ranges to enable the holding of club events, as long as the Firearms Safety Authority is informed; and
- provide certainty about when inspections for compliance can occur and clarify what can be removed when an inspection is conducted, to reduce the burden on operators.
Whether “stronger” is the same as “more accurate” is a matter for conjecture (a bit like weather forecasting, some unkind readers might contend), but Science, Innovation & Technology Minister Judith Collins announced the government is “looking at” integrating the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the MetService to improve the country’s weather forecasting system.
The government has agreed in principle to NIWA acquiring the MetService, with the MetService retaining its role as New Zealand’s authorised meteorologist, subject to further work being completed.
Dismaying the people of Otago
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced advice is being sought on two options for delivering the New Dunedin Hospital project within its existing funding appropriation.
They warned that much-needed upgrades to other regional hospitals could be at risk if budget blow-outs at New Dunedin Hospital aren’t addressed.
This statement did have dollar signs.
The project had approved funding of $1.59 billion under the previous government. In March this year, Cabinet agreed to authorise a further $290 million in capital funding due to cost pressures. The current appropriation is therefore $1.88 billion.
“We now know that the New Dunedin Hospital, as currently designed, can’t be delivered within that appropriation. In fact, despite the project’s original 2017 cost estimates of $1.2 – $1.4 billion, it’s now possible it could approach $3 billion, which would make it one of the most expensive hospitals ever built in the southern hemisphere.”
Filling board positions
Appointments have been made to the Board of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, the Game Animal Council and the Charter Schools Authorisation Board.
Calling for the UN Security Council to do better
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters had some harsh things to say about the Security Council – and the power of veto – when he delivered New Zealand’s National Statement to the UN General Assembly.
Latest from the Beehive
27 September 2024
The Government and Auckland Business Chamber have entered a memorandum of understanding which will enable mental health and wellbeing resources for business owners to be freely available.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson have announced the Government has appointed Wayne Langford to the Board of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission for a five-year term of office.
Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay today announced one new, and one returning, appointment to the Game Animal Council (GAC).
Associate Education spokesperson David Seymour says the Government has released a new resource to inform the introduction of Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) systems in every school.
Nearly four score years ago, nations exhausted from a cataclysmic World War came together in San Francisco to create the United Nations Charter.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced his appointments to the new statutory Charter Schools Authorisation Board.
Improvements to the way shooting clubs and ranges are regulated are on the way with the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges and Other Matters) Amendment Bill passing its first reading.
Students should be in school and learning instead of protesting during school hours, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says in response to the school climate strike planned for Friday 27th September.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the new peer support service launched in Middlemore’s Emergency Department today is a positive step towards improving mental health outcomes.
A proposed new electronic reporting system will make it simpler for amateur charter vessels to record and report fish catch information, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
The Government is looking at integrating the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the MetService to improve the weather forecasting system for New Zealand.
The Government is seeking advice on two options for delivering the New Dunedin Hospital project within its existing funding appropriation.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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